Alleged police shooting of OSPMS Chairman sparks chaos in Osogbo

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Tension gripped Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday as members of the Osun State Park Management System (OSPMS) staged protests over the alleged shooting of their chairman, Nurudeen Iyanda Wakili, popularly known as Alowonle, while in police custody.

The unrest disrupted normalcy in the city, leaving residents, students, and workers stranded as commercial transporters suspended operations in solidarity with the injured chairman.

An eyewitness, an okada rider, narrated his ordeal during the chaos. “When I arrived at Aregbe bus stop, I saw some hoodlums holding sticks. At first, they didn’t approach me, but as soon as they turned in my direction, they pushed me off the road. Both I and the passenger I was carrying fell and sustained injuries,” he recounted.

Our correspondent observed that key areas such as Stadium, Aiyetoro, Old Garage, Olaiya, and Ogoluwa were devoid of commercial vehicles, particularly the mini-buses known as Korope. Members of the OSPMS were reportedly stopping the few vehicles that operated, forcing passengers to disembark.

Motorcycle riders were also affected, as their keys were seized at various points by OSPMS members. Many parks were deserted, forcing commuters to trek long distances to their destinations.

The chaos followed a strike directive issued by OSPMS Secretary, Alhaji Mukaila Popoola, on Tuesday in solidarity with the union’s chairman, who was allegedly shot by Superintendent of Police (SP) Moses Lohor.

Popoola condemned the incident, describing it as an assassination attempt and calling for justice.

In a statement, he demanded the immediate apprehension of SP Lohor and accountability for the attack.

“It is clear that this was an attempt on the life of our chairman. Reports indicate that SP Moses Lohor aimed his gun directly at Comrade Alowonle with the intention to kill him,” the statement read.

The OSPMS leadership directed all commercial drivers in the state to gather at Olaiya Junction on Wednesday morning for a briefing.

The strike and protests severely disrupted economic and social activities across the city, with residents calling for swift intervention to restore normalcy.

Meanwhile, the union has urged the Inspector General of Police to ensure the safety of their chairman and to investigate the incident thoroughly.