Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
At least two people have been killed and several others injured in Ikire, Osun State, following a violent clash on Monday, August 24, 2026, over the control of a motor park at the Naira and Kobo Junction. The incident, which occurred around 10:30 a.m., has sent shockwaves through the community and heightened political tensions in the state, coming just days after Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election victory.
According to eyewitnesses, the violence erupted when political thugs believed to be loyal to the Accord Party attempted to seize control of the motor park from drivers allegedly aligned with the All Progressives Congress, who had been managing the facility. The confrontation quickly escalated into a deadly melee. A video of the incident obtained by PUNCH Online showed a man sitting in a vehicle with an open wound on his head, appearing lifeless. Another image captured a man lying face down in a pool of blood.
The violence extended beyond the park itself. During the clash, a new Toyota Hilux, which had been recently donated to the Ikire Divisional Police Station, was severely damaged, with its windscreen smashed and tyres slashed. The situation also drew in law enforcement. Sources told Vanguard that hoodlums had moved from the Oja-Ale area to Naira and Kobo, where they attempted to take over the motor park and the local government secretariat.
Residents alerted the police, who deployed officers to the scene. However, the situation escalated further when the hoodlums dared the police and disarmed one of the officers. The Divisional Police Officer subsequently reinforced his men, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Two persons were reportedly hit by bullets near the expressway during the confrontation. The police later recovered the weapon that had been seized from their officer.
The clash has been directly linked to the fierce political rivalry between the Accord Party and the APC. One eyewitness told PUNCH Online that the Accord Party members were attempting to take over the park from the APC extraction. The witness added that during the mayhem, an Accord member was shot. In the aftermath, the Accord members reportedly went to the palace of the Akire of Ikire to accuse the Divisional Police Officer of complicity in the violence. At the palace meeting, police claimed that the Accord members had abducted the secretary of the Palm Oil Seller Association, and that an exchange of fire while chasing the kidnappers resulted in a stray bullet hitting a person.
The Osun State Police Command has confirmed that shootings occurred around the Naira and Kobo Garage. The Commissioner of Police was in Ikire on Monday conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the command was still gathering information and could not immediately confirm the exact number of casualties. A detailed statement is expected after the investigation concludes.
The incident has raised grave concerns about post-election violence in Osun State. The government had warned on Sunday against attempts by groups to forcefully take over motor parks and local government secretariats. The clash in Ikire is rooted in the prolonged contest for control of Osun’s transport garages, a dispute that has continued even after the August 15 governorship election. Governor Adeleke’s victory on the Accord Party platform has seemingly emboldened his supporters, leading to confrontations with the APC-led structures in motor parks across the state. As the community of Ikire remains tense, the coming days will reveal whether the police investigation will bring accountability or whether this clash is a grim preview of a more turbulent political period ahead.
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