Osun youths demand thorough probe into park chairman’s case
Some Osun youths based in Abuja have called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure justice is served in the case of the Chairman of the Osun State Park Management System, Nurudeen Iyanda, popularly known as Alowonle.
PUNCH Online reports that a statement by the acting Police Public Relations Officer for the Osun Command, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, confirmed that Alowonle was arrested alongside some associates on Monday over allegations of murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, and malicious damage.
However, the case took a dramatic turn following the alleged shooting of Alowonle while in police custody.
The police and the Osun State Park Management have since traded blame over the incident, with the police claiming that Alowonle was shot while attempting to escape from custody.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, youths under the umbrella of the National Youths Inclusive Initiative, led by Fasasi Sodiq, and the Societal Safety Network, led by Suleiman Salahudeen, appealed to the Inspector General of Police not to succumb to emotional blackmail in handling the matter.
They also urged Egbetokun to restore peace in Osun and prevent the state from descending into anarchy.
“We implored the Inspector General of Police to use his good office to “rid-the-state-of-crime and personally address the emerging brigandage going on in Osun State before it becomes a bigger monster that will impact on security, law and order. It is disheartening that Alowonle’s case has been given undue political colouration, and it is about to be swept under the carpet.
“Specifically, we appealed to the police authority to clear the name of the force of the grievous allegation by the suspect that policemen supplied him with guns and ammunition found in his possession,” the groups said.
They also extolled officers of the Osun State Police Command for their proactiveness, high sense of professionalism, diligence and patriotism in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities of maintaining law and order.
The groups, however, faulted the state government’s position on the matter.
“The attitude of the state government of Osun is concerning. They are trivializing the current arrest of Alowonle and making puerile justifications to ease his freedom.
“The Press Statement of the state government regarding the arrest of Alowonle signed by the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, is unpatriotic and should be condemned in all its entirety by good-spirited Nigerians.”
