Accord Party protests after two members kidnapped in Osun

Two people believed to be members of the Accord Party were reportedly kidnapped in Ilesa, Osun State, by suspected criminals. This has created unrest in the area.

On Friday, videos of one of the abductions circulated online. The footage shows a man begging his kidnappers, who fired gunshots into the air before forcing him into a vehicle marked “AMBO,” which stands for Bola Oyebamiji, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In another video, an elderly woman from Ilesa went to the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Haastrup, to protest the kidnapping of her son by suspected criminals late on Thursday.

The woman, whose name is not known, said her son was taken while he was eating. Speaking in Yoruba, she said, “I am a poor woman. They took my son away yesterday evening. We were eating when the thugs came. We pleaded with them but they refused. I am a poor woman; they should release my son alive.”

The Accord Party members in Ilesa held a peaceful protest against the kidnappings, demanding the immediate release of those taken. They claimed the two abducted individuals were part of their party.

The protesters marched from the Otapete area of Ilesa to the Owa’s Palace. They alleged that the kidnappings were done by criminals connected to the APC. Ibraheem Popoola, the party's House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, led the protest and called on security agencies to stop such events from happening again.

The protesters carried placards with messages like “APC thugs are abducting us,” “Save us from APC hoodlums,” and “We are now living in fear.” They also sang songs demanding immediate action from security forces to prevent further issues.

When asked for confirmation, Osun State Police Command spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed the kidnappings. He stated that the victims were in police custody.

“We are aware of the abductions that took place in Ilesa. It happened on Thursday. The two victims were abducted in Ilesa. Initially, these were seen as simple abductions, but our investigations show that there are other criminal elements involved,” Ojelabi said.

He added, “Nevertheless, the two abductees are in police custody and they are helping with investigations. Those who took them have not been arrested.”

Meanwhile, the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council issued a statement accusing the Accord Party, led by Governor Ademola Adeleke, of using vehicles with APC symbols to incite violence in the state.

The statement, released by Remi Omowaiye, head of the Media and Publicity Committee of the campaign team, claimed the “recently circulated video of the abduction and harassment of an Osun citizen by suspected PDP/Accord supporters in an APC-branded vehicle was an event that had been foretold.”

It continued, “The video was a planned attempt to damage the reputation of the party and its gubernatorial candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO).”

As of 8:20 p.m. when this report was being prepared, the Accord Party had not responded to the APC’s claims. Attempts to reach the party spokesperson, Oladele Bamiji, were unsuccessful.