By Ademola Ade
Tension heightened in Osogbo, Osun State capital, yesterday following the reported killing of an aide and associate of Governor Ademola Adeleke, Dauda Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir, by suspected gunmen.
Oyeyemi was reportedly shot in the head by masked gunmen during a meeting at Mayfair Motor Park in Osogbo, amid an alleged dispute over the leadership of the state’s motor parks.
Sources said Oyeyemi had been seeking a leadership position in the motor park, currently headed by Mr Wakili Nurudeen, popularly known as Alowonle, resulting in tension between the two camps.
It was gathered that Oyeyemi had attended a meeting with members of his group at the park to resolve issues surrounding its management when the gunmen reportedly stormed the venue and opened fire.
An eyewitness said the shooting triggered panic as members of the two factions reportedly fled the scene.
The eyewitness added that a vehicle conveying some of the fleeing members of Oyeyemi’s group was involved in an accident near the campus gate while attempting to escape the area.
Following the incident, tension reportedly spread to Oyeyemi’s base in the Asoje area of Osogbo, where his associates were said to have become agitated.
Sources said some of his associates accused members of the Alowonle faction of involvement in the killing, although the allegation had not been independently established as of press time.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed the incident and called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing.
He urged security agencies to immediately investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Police authorities had yet to issue further details on the circumstances surrounding the killing as of press time.
The incident has heightened concerns over the activities of rival groups in the management of motor parks in the state, with residents urging security agencies to prevent any possible reprisal attacks.
