Tension and outrage have erupted in Ilesa, Osun State, following a reported shooting during an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign on Saturday morning, where a 12-year-old boy was allegedly hit by gunfire while sitting inside his mother’s shop.
The incident has triggered protests in parts of the town, with residents demanding an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and accountability for those responsible.
The boy was reportedly inside his mother’s shop when gunshots were fired during the campaign. He was said to have been caught in the ensuing chaos and subsequently taken for medical treatment.
An eyewitness who spoke to SaharaReporters alleged that the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Akerele, was at the scene alongside operatives of the Amotekun Corps when the incident occurred.
The eyewitness further alleged that gunfire broke out during a confrontation involving APC supporters, claiming that several party members were injured in the process.
“Scores of APC members also sustained injuries,” the eyewitness was quoted as saying.
The precise circumstances that led to the shooting remained unclear as of press time. It was also not independently established who fired the shots that allegedly injured the boy and other persons.
A photograph obtained by SaharaReporters showed the 12-year-old lying on what appeared to be a hospital bed, suggesting that he had been taken for medical attention. However, his condition and the extent of his injuries could not be independently verified.
The reported involvement of a child in the incident has intensified public anger in Ilesa, with residents reportedly taking to the streets to demand answers.
The development has also renewed concerns over political violence in Osun State, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
For many residents, the reported shooting of a 12-year-old during a political campaign has raised serious questions about the conduct of political activities and the presence and use of armed security personnel at campaign events.
Calls are now mounting for the relevant security authorities to establish exactly what happened, determine who fired the shots, identify those injured and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the appropriate consequences.
The incident has also placed renewed attention on the need for political parties, candidates and security personnel to exercise maximum restraint during campaign activities to prevent innocent residents and supporters from becoming victims of political clashes.
As of the time of filing this report, official reactions from the Osun State Police Command, the Amotekun Corps and Wale Akerele were not immediately available.
The number of people injured in the incident, including the exact condition of the 12-year-old boy, remained unconfirmed.
The allegations concerning the lawmaker and Amotekun operatives could not be independently verified as of press time.