The Nigerian Police Force has blamed the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, for the recent mayhem in Osogbo, Osun state.
The State Government condemned the shooting and warned that any unruly action by any individual, no matter highly placed, will be checked legally.
Police spokesman SP Yemisi Opalola explained in a statement that Aregbesola’s conduct breached public peace.
She said: “Yesterday’s action was likely to cause a breach of public peace. About 5:30 pm, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola was moving in a convoy of personnel of NSCDC, Correctional Service, Immigration, as well as some unidentified armed people, suspected to be political thugs, on Orisunbare/MDS road, Osogbo.
“Suddenly, some of the security escorts of the minister started shooting sporadically into the air without any provocation or attack, thereby causing members of the public to scamper for safety.
“Thirteen empty shells of G-3, assault, and AK-47 rifles were recovered on the road after the minister’s departure. No casualty was recorded. The situation is under close monitoring.”
The spokesperson of NSCDC, Atanda Olabisi, in a statement, however, attributed the mayhem to “unknown hoodlums.”
“The Osun State Commandant NSCDC, Emmanuel Ocheja, has assured residents of the state of adequate security, amid the mayhem caused by some unscrupulous elements in the state capital today.
“Unknown hoodlums attacked the convoy of the former Governor of Osun State and Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola about 6:40 pm around the Old Garage area in Osogbo, the state capital. However, the security detail of the minister was able to disperse the hoodlums and bring normalcy to the area,” he said.
