- However, Mikaela Popoola, OSTMS secretary, alleged the police of shooting Alowonle in the late hours on Tuesday.
- Popoola said in a statement that its chairman was arrested over “domestic issues” and was taken to the police custody.
The Osun police command has announced the arrest of Wakili-Nurudeen Iyanda, also known as ‘Alowonle’, head of the Osun State Park Management System.
Alowonle was allegedly found with police arms and ammunition. Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, deputy police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest.
Giwa-Alade stated that detectives from the anti-kidnapping unit apprehended nine suspects, including Alowonle, following a tip-off about their planned attack.
“Despite resistance, the police successfully overwhelmed them, recovering a Barrett pistol, six 9mm live ammunition, and an expanded empty cell from Wakili’s unregistered Toyota Highlander,” Giwa-Alade said.
Nine suspects were arrested, including Nurudeen Wakili, after encountering heavy resistance from Alowonle’s group, resulting in four escapees.
“He was rearrested, and the following items were recovered from his vehicle: Beretta pistol, six 9mm live ammunition, and an expanded empty cell.”
Other exhibits include a Hummer bus, Nissan Almera, and Toyota Sienna.
The deputy spokesperson stated that Alowonle attempted to escape with handcuffs, got injured, and was rearrested.
Alowonle is currently receiving medical treatment at the Osun State University teaching hospital.
Mikaela Popoola, OSTMS secretary, alleged that the police shot Alowonle while in custody.
Popoola stated that Alowonle was arrested over domestic issues and taken to police custody.
“Our chairman was shot while in police custody under circumstances that demand a thorough investigation,” Popoola said.
The OSTMS secretary urged members to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
The Osun commissioner for information and public enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, condemned the alleged attempted murder of Alowonle.
The state government called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Moses Lohor, head of the anti-kidnapping squad.
“Alowonle is presently on life support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Osun State Teaching Hospital,” the statement reads.
Video clips of Alowonle in handcuffs and under interrogation dispelled any excuse that he was trying to escape.
“The fact that he was shot in the abdomen as video from his hospital bed confirmed proved that he was shot at close range with intent to eliminate him.”
Alimi stated that interactions between Samuel Ojo and Lohor revealed that the shooting was pre-planned.
“We also note that the issue that generated the purported arrest was a civil matter, not criminally related.”
The commissioner accused Lohor of police harassment of state government officials on partisan motivation.
The state government also called in Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, and Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, to ensure impartiality and maintain peace in Osun.