Two people were feared killed in Ikire, Osun State, on Monday following a violent dispute over control of a motor park at Naira and Kobo Junction.
The Punch reported that the incident reportedly began around 10:30am when some drivers alleged to be members of the Accord Party arrived at the park and attempted to take over from drivers said to be loyal to the All Progressives Congress.
Videos obtained from the scene showed one man sitting inside a vehicle and appearing lifeless, with an open wound on his head.
Another image showed a man lying face down in a pool of blood.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that political thugs from both sides were involved in the confrontation.
“A political thug named said to be working for APC and his team were at the motorpark in Ikire around Naira and Kobo area in Ikire when some political thugs from Accord stormed the area around 10:30am to take over the place.
“During the melee, a new Toyota Hilux donated to Ikire Divisional Police Station was damaged. The windscreen was smashed and the tyres damaged.”
Another resident, who also spoke anonymously, claimed that an Accord Party member was shot during the confrontation.
“The Accord Party members were trying to take over the park from those of the APC extraction, and during the mayhem, an Accord member was shot.
“After the killing, the Accord members went to the palace of Akire of Ikire to report that the Divisional Police Officer was involved in the mayhem.
“During the meeting at the palace, police claimed that the Accord members abducted the Secretary of Palm Oil Seller Association in Ikire and it was while chasing the kidnappers that an exchange of fire occurred and in the process, a stray bullet hit one person.”
The account could not be independently verified.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, were unsuccessful.
Calls to his mobile phone went unanswered, while he had yet to respond to text messages sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
Further details are expected as authorities investigate the incident.
