Olayiwola Matthew
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has disclosed that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Head of Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad in the state, Moses Lohor and members of his team for attempted murder.
This was confirmed by the Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Security, Samuel Ojo, in a statement by Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to Governor Adeleke after a closed-door meeting with the Governor and the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Umar Abba.
The crisis erupted after operatives of the Osun State Police Command Anti-kidnapping Squad led by Moses Lohor allegedly shot Wakeel Nurudeen Iyanda Alowonle, Chairman of the Osun State Transport Management System on the night of Monday, 18 November, 2024.
The police alleged that he was shot after he reportedly tried to escape arrest after a pistol and ammunition were found in his car.
Meanwhile, the state government in a statement on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi alleged that Alowonle’s shooting was a case of suspected murder.
“Moses Lohor had shot Alowonle in the abdomen at the police station after his arrest over a domestic brawl with a neighbour. The park chairman is currently on life support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Osun State Teaching Hospital, Osogbo,” Alimi said in the statement.
Ojo narrated that the police authorities viewed Moses’ conduct as unprofessional, illegal, unauthorised, and against the operational code.
He also noted that Moses and his men had been moved to Abuja the morning of Wednesday, 20 November, 2024.
“We can confirm that the police authorities at the highest level have acted decisively on this matter. A clear punitive directive was issued by the IG. Mr Governor has directed we follow up to ensure that justice is served.”