Korede Abdullah in Lagos
Residents of Osun State were gripped by fear on Monday morning as armed hoodlums attempted to seize control of local government secretariats across multiple areas, including Osogbo and Olorunda.
The invasion, which began around 8:00 a.m., led to sporadic gunfire, forcing schoolchildren to flee while commercial activities came to a halt. Security operatives swiftly intervened, preventing the attackers from accessing government offices.
The crisis reportedly stemmed from a power struggle between members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to sources, some sacked APC chairmen stormed the Olorunda secretariat, attempting to reclaim control, but PDP loyalists and security forces repelled them. Similar clashes occurred in Iragbiji, Odo-Otin, and Ife Central LGAs, where videos obtained by our correspondent showed rival party thugs confronting each other in the presence of law enforcement.
Governor Ademola Adeleke had earlier accused his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, of plotting to reinstate the ousted council chairmen, an allegation Oyetola dismissed.
He insisted that the governor should comply with a Court of Appeal ruling in Akure, which purportedly reinstated the APC-led councils. As tensions persist, security agencies remain on high alert to prevent further unrest in the state.
