By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, Remi Abass, has been shot dead by yet-to-be-identified assailants amid the ongoing crisis surrounding local government administration in Osun State.

Abass was reportedly killed by hoodlums alleged to have been preventing the reinstated APC chairmen and councillors from resuming office following a recent court ruling.

Similarly, no fewer than two persons sustained varying degrees of gunshot wounds across local government areas in the state as tensions escalated.

The attack in Ikire occurred on Monday morning when suspected political thugs stormed the local government secretariat, targeting Abass shortly after he resumed office.

His resumption followed the Court of Appeal’s judgment reinstating all council officials who were sacked after being elected towards the end of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration.

A yet-to-be-identified resident of the town was also shot dead during the incident.

Elsewhere, in Iragbiji, the headquarters of Boripe Local Government Area, two more persons were killed when suspected hoodlums invaded the local government secretariat.

Speaking to journalists, the Commissioner for Government Affairs and Protocol, Ajeigbe Korede, claimed that two members of his party were shot dead, while six others sustained gunshot wounds.

Korede accused APC chieftains in the council of orchestrating the attack in a bid to seize control of the local government secretariat.

He explained: “Earlier this morning around 5 am, we were called that APC thugs, led by Banik from Iree, Boripe, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke under Oyetola’s regime, including Asiri-Eniba and some other thugs from different local governments, were mobilised.

“We came out to see what was happening, and none of our party members were there to attack or harass them. Before we knew it, they started shooting with pump-action guns and AK-47s.

“Shooting right in the presence of security operatives here in Boripe local government. The DPO was there. The thugs started shooting our members, but unfortunately, one of their thugs, Sogo Agboola, AKA Ado, shot directly at our members, leading to the death of two people.

“Before we could rush them to the hospital, they gave up the ghost. Presently, we have about three to six of our party members who sustained gunshot wounds.

“We are told they are still in Iragbiji. They are in the former governor’s house, Asiri-Eniba, Sogo, Banik, they are all in Oyetola’s house, where I believe they are trying to strategise again to unleash another attack. They promised to come tomorrow again.”

Reacting to allegations that he led thugs to attack Boripe local government, Adebayo Adeleke denied the claims, stating that he was at different radio stations at the time of the incident.

He further alleged that PDP hoodlums were planning to assassinate him and seven others.

“As at 8:30 am this morning, I was at an interview with Western TV. I was also at an interview with Channels TV around 12 pm, and around 1 pm, I was at Afinju Radio,” he said.

Adeleke insisted that no amount of intimidation would prevent them from resuming office.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Project Implementation at the Federal Housing Authority, Engr. Remi Omowaiye, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by suspected hoodlums.

Speaking after the attack, Omowaiye alleged that PDP thugs launched an assault on him and his entourage in Ilesa.

He said three of his aides sustained injuries and were receiving treatment in hospital.

“They would have killed me if not for the swift intervention of my security team. I was brutally attacked, and my driver was shot, but I thank God for the swift intervention of my security details.

“We call on the federal government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene before the situation in Osun spirals out of control.”

In response, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, expressed sadness over the incident.

He urged security agencies to immediately fish out the perpetrators and ensure they face the full weight of the law.

The governor also extended his condolences to the families of the deceased, assuring them that the killers would be apprehended.