* Threaten ‘uncompromising resistance’ if…
By Kehinde Jacobs
There was outrage in Ikire on Monday after members of the Ikire Concerned Youths (ICY) accused the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Irewole Division, Mr. Bamidele Olatona, of killing a commercial bus driver and a passenger during a shooting at the Naira and Kobo Garage.
In a strongly worded press statement signed by the group and made available to journalists, the youths said the incident occurred earlier today at the busy motor park in the heart of Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area. They alleged that the DPO “went completely wild and opened fire sporadically into a crowded public motor park,” leading to the deaths of Saheed Akinrole, a commercial bus driver, and an unnamed passenger.
“We, the united body of Ikire Concerned Youths, express our absolute disgust, fury, and unreserved condemnation over the horrific slaughter of an innocent commercial bus driver, Saheed Akinrole, and a helpless passenger,” the statement read.
The group described the act as “unprovoked butchery” and said it was evidence that an officer entrusted with protecting citizens had become “a bloodthirsty, trigger-happy threat to public safety.” According to ICY, Mr. Olatona’s conduct “proves beyond doubt that he is mentally unhinged, dangerous, and completely unfit to hold command or carry a weapon.”
Beyond Monday’s incident, the youths linked the DPO to a pattern of alleged partisan behavior. They claimed that during the last elections in Ikire, Mr. Olatona “abandoned all professional ethics to become a private militia leader for political thugs.”
“While innocent lives were being snuffed out across Ikire before the polls, Mr. Olatona never made a single arrest of known criminals,” the statement alleged.
“Instead, he turned the police station into a safe haven for partisan thugs, shielding them from justice and escorting them to unleash bloodshed and terror upon the peaceful people of our community.”
The group said residents have “for far too long” suffered under what they termed the “tyrannical and partisan misrule” of the officer, adding that the shooting at Naira and Kobo Garage represented a breaking point for the community.
“This latest act of barbarism… is the final straw for the young people of this local government,” ICY stated.
“We will no longer stand by and watch our brothers, sisters, and parents executed in broad daylight by an officer who behaves like an escaped madman in uniform.”
In the statement, the Ikire Concerned Youths issued a direct ultimatum to the country’s top police authorities. They called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, and the Police Service Commission to take immediate action.
Specifically, the group demanded “the arrest, psychological evaluation, summary dismissal, and full criminal prosecution of DPO Bamidele Olatona for murder.”
They argued that he “must answer for every drop of innocent blood shed today and face the maximum penalty under the law to serve as a deterrent to other partisan, bloodthirsty officers.”
The youths warned that inaction would provoke a response from the community. “If the police leadership fails to act swiftly and decisively to bring this tyrant to justice, they will have to contend with the lawful, uncompromising resistance of the entire youth population of Ikire,” the statement concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Police Command had not released an official statement on the alleged shooting. Attempts to reach the Irewole Divisional Police Headquarters for comment were unsuccessful.
Community leaders in Ikire have, however, appealed for calm while urging relevant authorities to launch an independent investigation into the incident to establish the facts and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
The Naira and Kobo Garage, one of the major motor parks in Ikire, remained tense on Monday as commercial drivers and passengers discussed the incident. Many called for justice for the victims and for measures to restore public confidence in policing in the area.
The Ikire Concerned Youths said they would monitor developments closely and would update the public on next steps.
