Posted by By HAMMED BODUNRIN, Osogbo on
Unspecified number of persons were reportedly injured yesterday in Osogbo, Osun state capital as supporters of the Action Congress (AC) clashed with those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Ita Olookan area of the city.
Unspecified number of persons were reportedly injured yesterday in Osogbo, Osun state capital as supporters of the Action Congress (AC) clashed with those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Ita Olookan area of the city.
A quick intervention by the police, however, doused the tension as the rioters were dispatched while a ditachment of mobile policemen was stationed at Oja-Oba/Ita-Olookan area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
Though there were different accounts of what caused the skirmishes, Daily Sun learnt that the clash lasted for about 30 minutes during which the entire area was thrown into commotion as people ran in different directions for safety.
In the melee, vehicles belonging to the clashing political parties were also smashed while many passers- by were wounded in their bid to escape from the scene.
An account of the incident blamed the clash on an alleged blockage of the AC campaign convoy that was heading towards Ilesa for its rally by two PDP buses, while another account claimed that it was the convoy that overtook the PDP vehicles, asking them to leave the road, a situation which led to the clash.
It was further learnt that while the AC was taking its campaign to Ilesa, the PDP was also going to Iperindo in Atakumosa Local Government Area and were apparently bound to take the same route out of Osogbo.
While the skirmishes lasted, dangerous weapons such as catapult, clubs,stones and sticks were freely used by the rioters.
The state police command however deployed mobile policemen to the scene and as at the time of filing this report, they were still at the spot to ensure that a repeat of the morning clash was not recorded during the return journey from their campaigns.
Confirming the incident, the state police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Joshua Olayemi (ASP) told Daily Sun that the situation was under control adding that one person in mobile police uniform has been arrested in connection with the clash.
'We have one person in our custody and he is being interrogated by men of the criminal Investigation department (CID) Osogbo but we may make more arrest if neccessary. You know in this kind of situation, you cannot just go and arrest people without evidence, we are still doing our investigation," he said.
The PPRO declared that the command would be interested in where the
suspect got the mobile police uniform adding that anyone linked with the matter would be
made to face the consequence.