Tension has reportedly gripped Ilesa, Osun State, following the alleged shooting of a 12-year-old boy during a campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the town on Saturday.
The incident, according to eyewitness accounts, occurred when gunshots were allegedly fired during the campaign, with the boy reportedly caught in the incident while sitting inside his mother’s shop.
An eyewitness who spoke to SaharaReporters alleged that the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Akerele, was present at the scene alongside personnel of the Osun State Amotekun Corps when the incident occurred.
The eyewitness further alleged that the lawmaker and Amotekun operatives fired shots at APC members during the campaign, resulting in injuries to several people.
The 12-year-old boy was said to have sustained gunshot injuries while inside his mother’s shop, while several APC supporters were also reportedly injured in the incident.
“Scores of APC members also sustained injuries,” the eyewitness was quoted as saying.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remained unclear as of the time of filing this report, as there was no independent confirmation of how the shots were fired or who was responsible.
The alleged shooting has reportedly sparked protests in parts of Ilesa, with residents demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly the alleged involvement of security personnel.
A photograph reportedly obtained by SaharaReporters showed the injured boy lying on what appeared to be a hospital bed, although his medical condition and the extent of his injuries could not be independently verified.
The number of people injured in the incident also remained uncertain as of press time.
Efforts to obtain official reactions from the Osun State Police Command, the Amotekun Corps and the lawmaker reportedly involved were unsuccessful at the time of filing the report.
The incident has heightened concerns over the conduct of political campaigns and the need for security agencies and political actors to ensure that campaign activities do not endanger residents, particularly children and other non-participants.
Authorities are expected to investigate the incident and establish the circumstances surrounding the reported shooting.
