Osun on the Brink: 15 Dead, 27 Arrested as Election Violence Escalates

Osun State is heading into the August 15 governorship election under a darkening cloud of bloodshed, political recrimination and institutional controversy, with at least 15 people reportedly killed in violence linked to the political contest and 27 suspected thugs and cultists arrested by the police.

What should ordinarily be a contest for votes has increasingly taken on the character of a battle for political survival, as rival camps trade accusations over attacks, security agencies scramble to contain violence and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) identifies 11 local government areas as potential electoral flashpoints.

The stakes have been raised further by the explosive dispute between the Osun State Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of the state's Federal Statutory Allocation Account — an action President Bola Tinubu has now asked the anti-graft agency to return to court to reverse.

For critics of the timing, the sequence of events is deeply troubling: a politically combustible state is approaching a closely watched election while a federal agency is pursuing a financial investigation against the incumbent administration.

Tinubu himself acknowledged the political sensitivity, saying he was embarrassed by the timing of the EFCC action and warning that decisions by federal institutions shortly before an election could be interpreted as interference in the electoral process.

The EFCC maintains that its action was pursuant to a court order and linked to an investigation into alleged mismanagement of about N11 billion involving Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and allocations received through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The Osun Government has vehemently rejected the allegations, describing the action as unlawful and based on unsubstantiated claims.

The political temperature has consequently risen sharply, with competing parties accusing one another of deploying violence, recruiting thugs and attempting to intimidate voters.

For ordinary Osun residents, however, the political blame game has a more immediate consequence: fear.

A Trail of Blood Before the Ballot

The election campaign has already been stained by a series of deadly incidents.

Those reportedly killed in politically related violence include Remi Abass, Saheed Oyegun, Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Ismaila Ibrahim, Sheriff Oyewale, Muraina Olayiwola, popularly known as Montana, Waheed, also known as My Friend, Tajudeen Rabiu, Ismael Dudu, Kazeem Oyebamiji, popularly called Mosquito, Kasali Adebayo, Oladimeji Taiwo, Oloyede Damilare and Kolade Eluyera.

The police have confirmed the deaths and announced the arrest of 27 suspects in connection with political violence and alleged cult-related activities.

Among those arrested are Kareem Saheed, alias Tanfiani; Oyeladun Muideen, alias Akilapa; Rowan Ademola; Mukaila Azeez; Sunday Friday, popularly known as Akube; Olamilekan Fatai; Tiamiyu Ismail; Famuyiwa Adekunle; Ajiboye Toheed; Morufi Sodiq; and Folorunso Moshood.

Others are Hassan Sodiq, Badiru Saheed, Adegoke Olalekan, Faruk Olawale, Iyanuoluwa Sarumi, Afolabi Ahmed, Adesina Lukman, Mutiu Opeyemi, Olusola Daniel, Abiola Olabode, Azeez Abiodun, Babatunde Kehinde, Dada Mayowa, Musa Taoreed, alias Toyo, Musa Muritala Akande and Muri Akanni.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, has insisted that the arrests are not targeted at any political party or individual.

Speaking through the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, Gotan said the command's operations were designed to rid the state of criminal elements and protect residents before, during and after the election.

But the growing list of victims and suspects has done little to calm public anxiety.

Ede Becomes Latest Theatre of Violence

The latest incidents in Ede have brought the political tension into sharper focus.

An APC supporter, Abideen Oyetunde, reportedly survived an attack at his residence in Sekona, Ede South Local Government Area.

Oyetunde allegedly sustained serious machete wounds to his head and a gunshot injury.

A video circulated on social media showed medical personnel attending to a deep wound on his head.

From his hospital bed, Oyetunde alleged that armed men stormed his residence at about 6 p.m., carrying guns and machetes.

He claimed that one of the attackers, whom he identified as Monranmo, struck him on the head with a machete before he lost consciousness.

According to Oyetunde, his attackers apparently believed they had killed him before he was taken to hospital and regained consciousness.

He further alleged that some of those involved were supporters of the Accord Party.

Those allegations have not been independently established, and no political party has been judicially found responsible for the attack.

But the incident has nevertheless deepened fear in the community.

A resident identified as Tolani said reports of the attack and stray bullets had left residents frightened and called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

Second Attack Deepens Ede Anxiety

Another violent episode was reported later the same night involving Taofeek Akanbi, a former Accord Party member who recently defected to the APC.

Akanbi was reportedly targeted at Access Point Lounge and Bar in Odo Eja, Ede.

Two suspected assailants, identified as Kazeem Oriade and Wakeel Mojeed, popularly known as Doki, allegedly went to the premises looking for him.

When they reportedly failed to find Akanbi, they allegedly attempted to set the premises on fire.

Workers managed to extinguish the fire before the building suffered serious damage.

Police subsequently arrested three suspects following intelligence-led operations.

Ojelabi said officers raided a suspected criminal hideout around Ede Junction on August 1 and arrested Musa Taoreed, Musa Muritala Akande and Muri Akanni.

The suspects remained in custody while investigations continued.

The police have meanwhile appealed to parents and guardians to discourage young people from suspicious gatherings, unnecessary late-night movements and associations with suspected criminals.

Tinubu’s Intervention Raises Fresh Questions

The violence is not the only issue threatening to overshadow the election.

The EFCC's freezing of the Osun Government's Federal Statutory Allocation Account has triggered an increasingly bitter political and legal controversy.

The anti-graft agency said it was investigating the alleged mismanagement of about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and FAAC allocations.

The state government rejected the allegations and accused the EFCC of attempting to justify an unlawful action.

Government officials also warned that restricting access to the account could undermine the administration's ability to fulfil financial commitments, including palliatives promised to civil servants.

The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Alimi, however, said the palliatives had already been paid and maintained that there was no money left to be diverted.

Then came Tinubu's intervention.

The President directed the EFCC to return to court and seek the lifting of the order freezing the accounts.

His explanation was unusually blunt: he said the timing of the action embarrassed him and acknowledged that federal agencies acting so close to an election could create the impression that the Presidency was attempting to influence the political process.

Although the EFCC had obtained a court order, Tinubu noted that federal institutions are often perceived as extensions of the Presidency.

The episode has therefore injected an entirely different dimension into the Osun election — one involving not only votes and violence, but also the delicate question of the relationship between federal power and state-level electoral competition.

Police Under Pressure to Prove Neutrality

Against this background, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has promised that the police will remain neutral.

Disu made the commitment in Abuja during a meeting with civil society organisations led by the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani.

Election security, political violence, voter intimidation, political thuggery and the neutrality of security agencies dominated the discussions.

Disu said the police had developed comprehensive security arrangements and insisted that the force had no preferred candidate or political party.

He said officers deployed for election duties had been reminded of their constitutional obligations and would be expected to enforce the law without favour.

Vote buying, intimidation, ballot-box snatching, thuggery and other electoral offences, he warned, would attract prosecution irrespective of political affiliation.

The police said personnel and operational equipment had been deployed across the state, with coordination continuing among the police, INEC, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and other stakeholders.

INEC Names 11 Flashpoints

INEC's decision to identify 11 local government areas as potential electoral flashpoints underscores the seriousness of the security situation.

The affected areas are Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun and Oriade.

The commission said the areas would receive increased security attention, including specialised and high-visibility deployments.

Security personnel have been instructed to prevent thuggery, cult activities and attempts to disrupt voting while maintaining political neutrality.

INEC has nevertheless urged voters not to surrender their democratic rights to fear.

The commission appealed to eligible voters to turn out peacefully, vote for candidates of their choice and return home safely.

Political Camps Trade Accusations

With the clock ticking towards August 15, the political camps have shown little sign of lowering the temperature.

The Osun chairman of the National Rescue Party, Gbenga Afeni, accused the APC and Accord Party of contributing to the deteriorating political atmosphere.

He argued that the violence could be contained if the two dominant political forces demonstrated genuine commitment to peaceful campaigning.

The APC rejected the allegation.

Its Director of Media and Publicity in Osun, Kola Olabisi, said APC members were themselves victims and accused Accord Party supporters of involvement in violent attacks.

The Accord Party also rejected the accusation and instead accused the APC of having a history of political violence.

Its state chairman, Victor Akande, pointed to violence recorded during the 2022 election and alleged that families of victims were still waiting for justice.

The Peoples Democratic Party chairman in the state, Sunday Bisi, also accused the APC of recruiting political thugs to intimidate opponents and voters.

He demanded the arrest and prosecution of anyone found to have participated in political violence.

The APC and other parties have rejected the allegations made against them.

Experts Warn Against Waiting for the Next Killing

Security experts say the authorities must move beyond reacting to individual attacks and dismantle the networks that finance and organise political violence.

Security analyst Akin Olatunbosun called for intensified intelligence gathering before, during and after the election.

He argued that politicians who finance or mobilise thugs must be held accountable, warning that political violence will remain entrenched as long as political actors maintain relationships with criminal elements.

Retired police officer Adunola Amao linked the problem partly to unemployment and frustration among young people.

He called for expanded employment opportunities and swift prosecution of persons convicted of political violence.

Another security expert, Nasir Ibrahim, identified poor parental supervision and the increasing number of out-of-school children as additional factors that expose young people to recruitment by criminal networks.

He urged governments to strengthen programmes aimed at keeping children in school and reducing youth vulnerability to criminal exploitation.

The Real Test Comes on August 15

The question now confronting Osun is whether the state can pull back from the precipice before the first ballot is cast.

The police insist they are ready.

INEC says the flashpoints have been identified.

The political parties insist they want peace, even as they continue accusing one another of fuelling the violence.

And the Presidency has suddenly found itself at the centre of a controversy over the timing of an EFCC investigation that has already become part of the political conversation.

But assurances will mean little to residents if the violence continues.

The immediate demand from voters is simple: the right to campaign, vote and return home alive.

For Osun, August 15 will therefore represent more than another election.

It will be a test of whether political competition can be separated from criminal violence, whether security agencies can withstand political pressure, and whether institutions of state can act without creating doubts about their neutrality.

The ultimate responsibility, however, extends beyond the police and INEC.

Political leaders who command the loyalty of young men on the streets must also restrain them.

Until those who finance, recruit and deploy political violence are made to face consequences, every promise of a peaceful election will remain just that — a promise.

Osun does not merely need an election on August 15. It needs an election in which its people are not forced to choose between exercising their democratic rights and staying alive.