OSOGBO — Gunmen on Wednesday night opened fire on the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Osogbo Local Government, Hon. Ashimiyu Ajibola, leaving him critically wounded in what officials are calling a politically motivated assassination attempt.
The victim, popularly known as “Baba Isila,” was ambushed alongside his friends in the heart of the Osun State capital, sparking widespread panic across the city.
The Commando-Style Attack
The violent assault occurred at approximately 9:50 PM near the Osogbo Community Bank axis along the busy MDS Road. According to eyewitness accounts, Ajibola and his companions were traveling in a blue Toyota Corolla when two armed men riding a motorcycle intercepted them.
In an operation described by survivors as “commando-like,” the gunmen unleashed a volley of bullets directly into the vehicle.
”We were driving from the MDS area when these gun-wielding men suddenly chased us and began shooting indiscriminately at our car,” one of the survivors recounted, still visibly shaken. “It was a miracle we survived. We managed to accelerate and speed into the Dugbe Divisional Police Headquarters for protection. That was when the assailants finally backed off and fled.”
While early reports initially misidentified Ajibola’s political affiliation as belonging to the Accord Party, official statements have since clarified that he is a prominent leader within the ruling PDP.
Clinging to Life
Following the targeted attack, the bullet-riddled vehicle arrived at the police station, where officers and survivors rushed the heavily bleeding party chairman to the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
While associates initially feared the worst, stating he was on a “danger list,” the authorities have offered a more reassuring update. Police medical personnel later confirmed that Ajibola has been stabilized and is currently responding to treatment.
State Government Demands Justice
The Osun State Government has reacted with fierce condemnation. The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, released a statement demanding an immediate, uncompromising investigation into the hit.
”This is an unfortunate and dastardly incident that cannot be swept under the carpet,” Alimi declared. “From all available indices, this attack bears the distinct colorations of political violence. We are calling on the police to act professionally, without fear or favor, to unearth the masterminds behind this criminality.”
Police Launch Manhunt
The Osun State Police Command has launched a high-level investigation to track down the fleeing gunmen.
In an official briefing, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, speaking on behalf of State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, confirmed that forensic teams have already processed the crime scene.
”We have recovered vital exhibits from the scene which are currently undergoing forensic analysis,” Ojelabi said. “The Commissioner of Police has ordered a high-powered investigation, deploying all available tactical and conventional resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding this attempted murder.”
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The police have urged residents of Osogbo to remain calm and law-abiding, requesting that anyone with credible information regarding the motorcyclist assassins step forward to assist in the ongoing manhunt.