OSOGBO, Nigeria — Suspected hoodlums on Wednesday attacked the convoy of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke shortly after he left the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, triggering an exchange of gunfire with his security personnel.
The incident occurred in the afternoon in Osogbo, the state capital, hours after Adeleke received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirming his re-election victory in the August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke arrived at the palace of Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, the Ataoja of Osogbo, at about 3:15 p.m. in a motorcade of roughly 20 vehicles after leaving the INEC state headquarters. He presented the certificate to the traditional ruler and received prayers before departing.
According to eyewitness accounts, the governor and his close aides had already boarded their vehicle when gunshots rang out. The suspected attackers arrived in an unregistered Sienna space bus through the Ita Olokan area and opened fire near the palace.
The exchange of gunfire between the hoodlums and the governor’s security detail lasted between 12 and 15 minutes before the assailants fled the scene.
The shooting caused panic among residents, traders and others in the vicinity of the palace. Many abandoned their shops and fled for safety as gunfire continued. Some reports indicated damage to the gate of the Ataoja’s palace.
Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed the attack. “They are hoodlums, and the governor’s security repelled them. They attacked the governor’s convoy at Ataoja’s palace. No casualty,” Alimi said.
No injuries or d3aths were reported as of the time of filing this report. The situation around the palace remained tense for some time afterward, with intermittent gunshots heard and shops shut in the area.
Adeleke had secured re-election with 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The visit to the Ataoja formed part of traditional post-election courtesy calls following the receipt of the INEC certificate.
Security personnel successfully protected the governor and his entourage, allowing the convoy to leave the palace. Investigations into the identities and motives of the suspected hoodlums are ongoing.
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