Alhaji Olalekan Ajagungbade, an ally of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has been shot dead in Osun State, barely 24 hours after the Department of State Services (DSS) alerted religious leaders in the state to an alleged plan by terrorists to attack places of worship and other public gathering centres.
Ajagungbade, popularly known as Emir in political circles, was reportedly lured to a motor park in Ile-Ife to attend a meeting, where he was shot in the head.
His brutal murder has heightened tension in some parts of the state coming shortly after the DSS warned over an alleged terrorists plots to disrupt the 2027 general elections.
The deceased was said to have been struggling to take control of motor parks in the state from the current leader of commercial vehicle drivers in Osun State, Alhaji Nurudeen Alowonle.
Following his death, there was tension in some parts of the state.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had alerted Muslim and Christian leaders in Osun State to an alleged plan by terrorists to attack places of worship and other public gathering centres as part of efforts to frustrate the 2027 general elections.
The DSS held separate meetings with the Muslim community and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Osogbo on Wednesday, where religious leaders were advised to take preventive measures against possible attacks.
The development followed an intelligence report that terrorists were plotting to spread insecurity to the southern part of the country, especially the South-West, and create tension in the build-up to the presidential election.
Confirming the meeting with the DSS, the President of the Osun State Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, said the security report was true, adding that the religious bodies had been advised on preventive measures.
According to Olawuyi, who spoke with this newspaper on Sunday, the DSS had outlined various proactive steps to help prevent possible attacks.
He said, “The meeting is true; it was held on Wednesday in Osogbo. We need to be careful and vigilant. These people (terrorists) have been trying to infiltrate Osun for quite some time.
“We had, some time ago, sent back some herders, numbering about 200, who flooded Osun from the Ikirun axis. There were also some individuals who came into the state on motorcycles. They didn’t understand our language and we had to send them back. The DSS is doing a very good job in terms of intelligence and alerting the people.”
Details of the DSS meeting with the Muslim leaders were also contained in an audio message sent to imams across the state by Olawuyi, which was obtained by the newspaper.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has directed the Osun State Police Command to track down and arrest all those involved in the killing of Ajagungbade.
In a statement by Malam Olawale Rasheed, his spokesperson, Adeleke directed the immediate vacation of the motor parks by warring groups and ordered the establishment of a Park Management System with immediate effect.
While calling for calm among citizens, the governor further directed security agencies to restore normalcy across the motor parks and ensure the maintenance of law and order across the state.
The governor also promised to issue an Executive Order for the establishment of a Park Management System to restore discipline and orderliness.
“Law and order must be maintained. There will be no sacred cows as all culprits will be brought to book. We call on members of the public to remain calm.
“We will ensure restoration of peace in all the affected parks and areas. The security agencies are under instruction to ensure the sustainability of peace at all cost.
“We are reintroducing the Park Management System. I will soon issue an executive order to give effect to the new management system to manage parks and garages across the state,” he said.
