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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has said the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Larooye II, has been shot by suspected political thugs who invaded his palace during the recent riots in the state capital.
Adeleke, in a post shared on Sunday, accused members of the All Progressives Congress of sponsoring the attack, claiming the monarch had been targeted for backing his bid for a second term ahead of the upcoming governorship elections.
“The Ataoja of Osogbo… said he was shot by APC thugs inside his own palace. His subjects were shot with live ammunition. Kabiyesi himself was the target,” the governor wrote.
He further described the incident as an attack on the entire Osogbo community, warning that the growing political violence in the state must not be ignored.
“An attack on the Ataoja is an attack on every son and daughter of Osogbo. Enough is enough. I call on the Inspector General of Police to act urgently. Desperate politicians must be exposed and disgraced,” Adeleke added.
However, at the time of filing this report, the APC had yet to respond to the allegations.
Monarch recounts the ordeal
The monarch, speaking at a public event in Osogbo on Saturday, confirmed that he survived an attack on his palace during a wave of violence that recently hit Osogbo and Ede.
According to him, the incident occurred on the same day some gunmen allegedly shot his son, who is said to be the president of a political party in the state.
“That day, some gunmen shot my son… They also attacked me in the palace that same day. But I survived the attack,” the monarch said.
He added that a suspect linked to the incident had been arrested and detained in Ilesa, stressing that efforts were underway to manage tensions.
The traditional ruler also appealed to political actors in the state to shun violence and embrace peaceful democratic processes.
“We will continue to handle the issues,” he said, urging aggrieved parties to resolve disputes through voting.
Growing political tension
The latest development comes amid escalating political hostilities in Osun State ahead of the governorship elections.
On June 4, Asimiyu Ajibola, chairman of the Accord Party in the state, was shot by gunmen in Osogbo in what was described as an assassination attempt.
Days later, opposition figures accused the Adeleke administration of deploying state security agents to protect private interests, a charge the government denied.
In a counterclaim, the governor accused opposition elements of orchestrating coordinated attacks in different parts of the state, further deepening the political rift.
Security agencies are yet to release an official statement on the latest allegations relating to the attack on the monarch.
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