The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered that the case involving Wakeel Nurudeen, an appointee of the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, be transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja with immediate effect.
This development was confirmed by the acting Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade on Wednesday.
Speaking on the crisis that the arrest of Nurudeen, popularly known as Alowonle has generated, Giwa-Alade, on a radio programme monitored by The Point, said the IGP invited the Officer-in-Charge of Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad in the state, Moses Lohor who allegedly shot Alowonle, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for proper investigation.
Alowonle, the chairman of the Osun State Transport Management System, was arrested on Monday night by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Police Command led by Lohor after he was allegedly found in possession of police-issued arms and ammunition.
His arrest was also linked to the alleged killing of one Oyewale in 2022 and the assault of several residents in the state.
Alowonle was apprehended at the Ring Road area of Osogbo while allegedly attempting to attack a resident who had filed a petition against him.
Reports indicate that Alowonle and his associates arrived at the scene in a Previa bus with registration number RBC 275XK.
However, a distress call alerted the police to the scene, leading to his arrest after a search was conducted on his vehicle thus leading to the alleged discovery of a gun and ammunition.
It was learnt that Alowonle attempted to escape and was shot.
However, transport workers in the state claimed that Alowonle was shot in the police custody.
Giwa-Alade explained that Alowonle was apprehended on charges of malicious damage, threats to life and attempted murder.
According to him, “From the beginning, there was a report and charges for malicious damage, threat to life, and attempted murder. So they try to bring him (Alowonle) in for questioning but he and his cohorts resisted. But, he was later arrested, and he was searched, we were able to recover some ammunition.
“According to the report I got, he was trying to escape and he was shot and rushed to the hospital and he is responding to treatment. Then, the case was transferred to Abuja for proper investigation. The IGP directed that his case should be transferred to Abuja for proper scrutiny. The report that he was shot in the police custody was part of what the IGP is investigating and whoever is found culpable will go in for it.
“At the moment, the allegations against the Anti-Kidnapping Squad head, Moses Lohor has made the IGP call him for questioning.
“We are making all efforts to ensure normalcy. Everything will be fine,” he said.
The Special Adviser to Governor Adeleke on Security, Samuel Ojo, had in a statement, disclosed that the IGP had ordered the arrest and prosecution of Lohor for allegedly shooting the suspect.
Meanwhile, The Point had reported how the development threw residents of Osogbo into fear.
Commercial transporters who are members of OSTMS reportedly took to the streets, leaving scores injured and property damaged.
It was gathered that the transport workers stormed Olaiya, Oroki Estate, Òkè-fíà, Old Garage, and other parts of Osogbo and injured scores of people, who had made it out early for their normal businesses.
Students and traders had been prevented from getting to their destinations as the transporters deserted roads in protest against the arrest and shooting of their chairman, who is currently on life support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
During a demonstration by the transporters, passengers were disallowed from accessing public transport, a situation that led to panicking residents to run helter-skelter with many sustaining injuries during the stampede.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for calm and urged transport workers not to take laws into their hands.
In a related development, the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for peace to allow the authorities to investigate and deliver justice on the shooting of Alowonle.
A statement by the spokesperson for the governor, Olawale Rasheed, said Adeleke pleaded with transport workers statewide not to take laws into their hands and allow state and federal authorities to address the issue for justice to prevail.
Rasheed also said Adeleke had spoken to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and that immediate actions have been directed by the police authorities to bring to book those who shot the State Park Management System chairman.
“I call on Osun transport workers to maintain peace and not to take laws into their own hands. I have acted on this sad incident. I spoke with the police Chief, and I had a closed-door meeting with the Commissioner of Police. Justice will be served.
“We will not allow agents of violence to destroy the peace and stability of our dear state. Do not be provoked to violence. Go about your normal duties while we handle this serious threat to the peace of our state”, the governor was quoted as saying.
