The Osun State Police Command has announced that the investigation into the shooting of Mr. Iyanda Alowonle, Chairman of the State Park Management System (OSPMS), will be transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja. This move follows the incident involving Alowonle and Moses Lohor, the Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, after an altercation led to Alowonle being shot.
The OSPMS protested the incident by withdrawing commercial vehicles across the state, causing significant disruptions and leaving commuters stranded. The protest was in response to the allegations that Alowonle was shot while in police custody. The police, however, stated that Alowonle was injured during an attempted escape after he was allegedly found with firearms.
The Osun State Police Command’s acting spokesperson, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, confirmed that the case has been escalated to Abuja for further investigation, and both the police officer involved and the state government’s claims will be examined. Meanwhile, Alowonle is recovering from the injury in the hospital.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for peace, urging transport workers to refrain from taking the law into their own hands while the authorities investigate the matter. He has also spoken with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, assuring the public that justice will be served.
In related news, a civil society group, Concerned Osun Civil Society Groups, has called for a thorough investigation into the actions of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, citing previous allegations of human rights abuses and misconduct within the unit.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Osun also commended the police for Alowonle’s arrest, while urging security forces to investigate the killings of NURTW members in 2022.
This ongoing investigation has sparked calls for accountability and justice as tensions remain high in Osun State.
