Senator Lere Oyewumi has called for an independent investigation into the killings at Naira and Kobo Garage in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, following his alleged indictment by a suspect arrested in connection with the violence.
The Nation reports that the crisis erupted at the garage on Monday during an attempt to take control of the facility, resulting in the snatching of an AK-47 rifle from a policeman. Two people were killed, while three security operatives sustained gunshot injuries.
The Osun State Police Command subsequently arrested four suspects in connection with the incident.
One of the suspects, Sikiru Adedeji, allegedly mentioned Oyewumi as the person who mobilised the group involved in the attack.
Oyewumi, however, denied the allegation while addressing journalists at the Imole Media Centre in Osogbo on Friday, describing the police account as one-sided.
The Deputy Minority Leader said he intervened to de-escalate the situation and prevent the crisis from developing into communal violence.
According to him, ‘I prevailed on residents of Ikire not to take the law into their own hands and assisted the Commissioner of Police in navigating troubled areas amid heightened tension.’
Oyewumi said it was inappropriate to link him to the violence, alleging that attempts to associate him with the suspect were capable of undermining efforts to establish what happened.
He also questioned the presence of the Divisional Police Officer and his men at the motor park, claiming that the area was peaceful before the police arrived.
He said, ‘I make bold to say that the police has not conducted any investigation because it is desperate to protect the DPO. The culpability of the DPO and his men in this matter cannot be swept under the carpet.’
Oyewumi urged the Osun State Government to expedite the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the Ikire incident and determine the circumstances surrounding the violence.
‘I therefore call for independent investigation. I call on the state government to fast-track the setting up of the commission of inquiry to look into this and other related issues,’ he said.