The Osun State Government has expressed outrage over the alleged shooting of Iyanda Alowonle, Chairman of the Osun Transport Management System, while in police custody. Alowonle, who sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen, is currently on life support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Osun State Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Osogbo.
The government has also called for the arrest, transfer, and prosecution of Moses Lohor, the Head of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Osun State Police Command, in connection with the incident.
Reports indicate that Alowonle was apprehended on Monday night by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad over possession of a Nigerian police-issued pistol and ammunition. A police source claimed Alowonle was injured while allegedly attempting to escape.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday evening by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government dismissed the escape narrative, pointing to video evidence of Alowonle in handcuffs during interrogation. The government alleged that the gunshot wound, as seen in hospital footage, suggests a close-range shot intended to kill.
“The video evidence circulating in the media contradicts claims that Mr. Alowonle tried to escape. The location of his wound, as shown in hospital footage, confirms that he was shot at close range with the intent to eliminate him,” the statement read.
The government further alleged that interactions between the governor’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Samuel Ojo, and Lohor revealed the act was premeditated. It also criticized the involvement of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in what it described as a civil matter, accusing Lohor of engaging in politically motivated harassment of state officials.
The statement continued:
“This incident is part of a troubling pattern of police harassment and violence against government officials, fueled by partisan motivations. The programmed attempt to murder Mr. Alowonle is the latest in a series of such attacks by the head of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, who has openly vowed to target supporters of the state government.”
The government warned of rising public tensions, stating it had worked hard to prevent retaliatory attacks on police establishments. It called for urgent intervention by the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser to address what it described as increasing threats to peace and stability in Osun State.
The government demanded:
- The immediate arrest and prosecution of Moses Lohor for attempted murder.
- A commitment to impartial policing free from partisan influence.
- Attention to threats of violence ahead of the 2026 elections.
“We urge the Inspector General of Police to act decisively to uphold the rule of law and avoid actions that could undermine peace and stability in Osun State,” the statement concluded.