Political Thugs Kill 14-year-Old Boy In Osun

A 14-year-old boy in Junior Secondary School III, Ezekiel Olapade, has been killed by suspected political thugs in Osun State.

Consequently, the Imole Campaign Council has renewed its call for the immediate redeployment of the state commissioner of police, Mr Ibrahim Gottan, over alleged incompetence and bias.

Findings revealed that the teenager was shot in the head while trying to help his mother, who fell as she fled out of a scare by sporadic gunfire by political thugs who invaded the Irepodun local government secretariat, Ilobu environment.

Addressing reporters in Osogbo yesterday, the director-general of the Imole Campaign Council, Senator Kamarudeen Olalere Oyewumi, said they have repeatedly warned and raised several alarms that the persistent failure of law enforcement authorities to confront political violence decisively would embolden criminal elements.

According to him, their fears were justified by the boy’s untimely death at the hands of political thugs, adding that what happened in Ilobu was not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern that has seen innocent citizens repeatedly become victims of politically inspired attacks.

Oyewumi called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of Saheed “Tanfeani”, who was mentioned by the father of the late boy and every individual connected with the heinous crime.

“We also demand a comprehensive investigation into all reported incidents of political violence across Osun State with a view to bringing every perpetrator, sponsor, and collaborator to justice, irrespective of status or political affiliation”.

Ilobu residents said Ezekiel and his parents had no political ties and were not involved in any confrontation. At the same time, neighbours described him as a quiet junior secondary school student who lived with his parents near the local government secretariat.