Osun State Police Command has launched an investigation into the shooting incidents that occurred in parts of the state which has left several people injured.

In a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the command was deeply concerned about the incidents and had commenced efforts to identify and arrest those responsible.

According to the statement, CP Gotan immediately directed the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, alongside the Operations and Intelligence Departments, to begin a comprehensive investigation.

The police said the investigation was aimed at ensuring the arrest and prosecution of all individuals connected with the attacks.

“The Commissioner of Police immediately directed the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), alongside the department of operations and intelligence units of the command, to commence a thorough investigation aimed at arresting and prosecuting those responsible,” the statement said.

The command assured residents that normalcy had been restored in the affected areas and that measures had been put in place to prevent a recurrence of the violence.

It added that security had been reinforced in the affected communities, while intelligence-led operations were ongoing to track down the perpetrators and any sponsors linked to the incidents.

“The Command wishes to reassure residents that all necessary steps have been taken as normalcy has been restored to the areas and measures have been implemented to prevent any recurrence,” the statement added.

The police further disclosed that officers promptly evacuated injured victims to medical facilities for treatment and noted that those affected were responding positively to medical care.

The Commissioner of Police appealed to residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, while urging members of the public with useful information to assist the investigation.

“Citizens with useful information that can aid the ongoing investigation are encouraged to report to the nearest police station or contact the Command through its emergency channels. All information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality,” Ojelabi said.

The command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state and pledged to ensure that all those behind the criminal acts were brought to justice.

Police also warned individuals and groups against taking the law into their own hands or engaging in activities capable of threatening public peace and security in Osun State.

DAILY POST has reported on Tuesday that the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and the Osun State All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Campaign Council exchanged accusations over a wave of violence reported in parts of Osun State, as both sides called for security intervention and investigations into the incidents.

The allegations followed reports of attacks and shootings in Osogbo, Ede and Ile-Ife, with the state government, the APC and the Accord offering differing accounts of the disturbances and assigning responsibility to rival political groups.

Addressing an emergency press briefing in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke condemned the coordinated attacks by political thugs allegedly associated with the governorship campaign of APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.

However, the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council rejected the governor’s claims and accused supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Accord of orchestrating attacks against APC members and campaign assets.

Meanwhile, the Accord through a statement signed by its Osun State Chairman, Pastor Victor Babalola Akande, alleged that armed thugs allegedly linked to the APC governorship campaign carried out shootings in parts of Osogbo and Owode-Ede, resulting in casualties and injuries.

Katsina State Police Command says it has arrested a suspected drug dealer and dismantled a four-man armed robbery syndicate operating in Funtua and surrounding communities.

Police spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, said in a statement on Tuesday that the operations led to the recovery of drugs, weapons, stolen items and cash.

He said operatives arrested a 22-year-old suspect, Aliyu Umar, popularly known as “Makami,” during a raid in the Jabiri area of Funtua Local Government Area on May 28.

According to him, the arrest followed credible intelligence linking the suspect to drug trafficking activities in the area.

Exhibits recovered from him included 38 Exol tablets, 28 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, and a knife.

“The suspect is believed to be a key member of a drug peddling syndicate operating in the area. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.

In a separate operation, operatives of the Makera Police Division arrested three suspected members of an armed robbery gang linked to phone snatching, motorcycle theft, shop breaking and other crimes.

The suspects, Salim Umar (24), Yusuf Mustapha (23), and Gaddafi Idris (27) were arrested on May 21 following intelligence reports.

Police said a search of the suspects led to the recovery of weapons including knives, machetes, scissors, an iron pinch bar, and other items such as mobile phones, SIM cards, charms, and cash.

The command added that investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of their operations and possible links to other crimes in the area.

Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed reports that an Islamic cleric, Alhaji Muhammad Maibarga, who was abducted by bandits in Koko-Besse Local Government Area, has died in captivity.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bashir Usman, said the command was aware of reports indicating that the cleric had died while in the custody of his abductors.

“We are aware of reports concerning the victim’s deteriorating condition and possible death in captivity,” he said.

Usman added that efforts were ongoing to verify the development and secure the rescue of other kidnapped victims in Koko-Besse and Wasagu local government areas.

The kidnapping was not publicly announced when it occurred but was later confirmed by the police following enquiries from journalists.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that Maibarga was abducted alongside a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Koko-Besse Local Government Area.

A video that surfaced online showed the two elderly men appealing for help from captivity and describing their deteriorating health conditions.

In the footage, the former APC chairman said both men were ill and had been forced to trek long distances through forests despite their age and medical conditions.

The video generated widespread concern among residents and on social media, with the captives appealing to their families, community leaders and government authorities to intensify efforts to secure their release.

According to reports, Maibarga later succumbed to his illness while in captivity.

Residents of his community have since observed Salatul Gha’ib (funeral prayer in absentia) for the late cleric, as his body has not been recovered.