Osun PDP Condemns Assassination Attempt On Alowonle… Wants Moses Lohor, Others Prosecuted

Osun State PDP has strongly condemned what it called ‘reprehensible and obvious assassination attempt’ on the life of the Chairman of Osun State Transport Management System (OSTMS), Mr. Nurudeen Iyanda ‘Alowonle’, by members of the Nigeria Police Force, Osun State Command, in Osogbo on Monday.

The party noted that ‘this heinous act was carried out by the anti-kidnapping squad led by SP Moses Lohor, an officer notorious for his excessive use of force’.

Osun State PDP also submitted that the attempt on Mr. Alowonle’s life, who , the party noted, was shot in the stomach by the police while in handcuffs, came on the heels of an alarming statement made by the  APC National Chairman, Dr Umar Ganduje, in which he had promised to lay siege  to the Southwest to forcefully take control of power from the two PDP-controlled states; Osun and Oyo. 

 The party in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by its state chairman, Hon Sunday Bisi described the incident as a deliberate escalation of political violence and intimidation orchestrated by thoughtless forces working for the APC which has been made clear through the attack on  Alowonle.

He also alleged that Moses, a Superintendent of Police, has made himself available to the APC as one of the tools of oppression noting that he had also led the team that carried out a raid on the Ibadan residence of former PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Prince Diran Odeyemi a few days ago.

‘We are appalled by the reckless and brutal actions of the anti-kidnapping squad under the command of SP Moses Lohor, who shot Mr Alowonle in a manner that raises several disturbing questions. Firstly, how could a handcuffed suspect, reportedly in police custody ‘attempt to escape from the station?’ How can the officer justify shooting Alowonle in the stomach, a life-threatening region of human body, after he had already been incapacitated? Was he facing them while attempting to escape, even in chains?

We demand immediate clarification on these issues because we are not aware of any law permitting police to engage in jungle justice or the extrajudicial execution of citizens, regardless of allegations against them. The actions of SP Moses Lohor and his team must be fully investigated, and those culpable should be brought to justice. It is of particular concern that the OC of the team, SP Moses Lohor has become a political tool being used for political actors to oppress citizens perceived to be against APC interest in the state.  

The same officer has previously been involved in similar incidents of political victimization where he unlawfully detained and terrorized loyalists of a former governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

We urge the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the National Security Adviser (NSA), and the Police Service Commission to effect drastic actions against SP Moses Lohor and his team. An immediate and transparent investigation is required into the shooting incident, and all those responsible must be held accountable.

The Osun State PDP will not shy away from holding into account, those who engage in political intimidation and violence while in positions of authority as graciously enabled by the mandate of the good people of Osun State. 

The pattern is getting clearer now, officer Moses seems to have assumed the role of a political intimidator, going by his recent actions of deliberately targeting members of other political parties apart from the APC. Nigerians would recall the recent invasion of the private residence of the former deputy national publicity of our great party, Prince Diran Odeyemi in Ibadan. The squad was led by this same officer Moses, apparently to harm him in the dead of the night.

This ignoble conduct, we suspect, is part of a larger plot to forcefully capture Osun State as mooted by the APC National Chairman. 

We will not tolerate a situation where our members will be singled out for violent intimidation because of their political beliefs. We again call on the IGP, NSA, and Police Service Commission to act quickly and firmly to rebuild public confidence in the police force and guarantee justice is delivered’ the party added-Team@orientactualmags.com   Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you.