Osun 2026: Thugs shoot APC member in Osogbo

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By Shina Abubakar

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A member of the All Progressives Congress, Taofeek Mustapha, was on Saturday reportedly shot by suspected political thugs.

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A resident of the Oluode-Aranyin, where the incident occurred, Sola Hammed, disclosed that the hoodlums arrived in an unmarked brown Sienna vehicle and started shooting sporadically into the air.

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“We all scampered for safety to avoid stray bullets, and we suddenly heard someone crying for help but we didn’t look back at the moment,” Hammed said.

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The victim, while narrating his ordeal, said he put on an AMBO crested face cap when the shooting occurred and while running for his life, the thugs shot him in the leg.

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“I put on the AMBO crested cap when the shooting occurred. Everyone ran to safety and they pursued me because I was wearing the APC candidate cap. I did not wait but was shot. I cried for help before they retrieved back into the vehicle and drove away,” he said.

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Spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said investigation has commenced into the incident.

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Meanwhile, the police spokesperson has also disclosed that the two Ilesa residents kidnapped by suspected political thugs have been rescued.

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The victims were reportedly abducted by thugs suspected to be loyal to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

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Political violence in Osun has heightened as the August 15 governorship election draws closer, with reported killings in some parts of the state.

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Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has directed the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to embark on a show of strength and raid criminal hideouts in a bid to flush suspected criminals out of the state ahead of the election.

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Disu, who spoke through DIG South West, Adegoke Fayoade, disclosed this while addressing stakeholders at the police command involving INEC, political parties, heads of security agencies, religious groups and the media.

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He said criminals would not be allowed to set the state on fire and warned politicians to stop harbouring suspected criminals.

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