THE Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the National Security Adviser; Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service (SSS) to probe the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrest of a local government chairman and some thugs called “state boys.”

The chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, who said this on Friday, raised the alarm that there was a frantic effort by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to bury the matter, noting that the security agencies should do everything possible to probe the development, as well as beam a searchlight on other APC leaders.

“Now, Nigerians can understand why the APC is challenging the deployment of soldiers for election. Of course, what they want is a state of anarchy in the state, in which they can unleash terror on innocent citizens and steal their mandate,” Olaoluwa said, noting that his party had been vindicated on its condemnation of the APC’s opposition to the deployment of security personnel.

The PDP urged the Inspector-General of Police to compel the Commissioner of Police in the state and the AC CID, as well as other security stakeholders in the state, to “ensure that justice is done on the arrest of APC’s gun-running loyalists”, even as it called on security operatives to be “more alert in order to check the APC, which it described as “desperate and devilishly-determined to win the August 9 election, having seen that it has already been rejected by Osun people.”

There had been controversies in Osun State over the alleged arrest of the Executive Secretary (chairman) of a local government (name withheld) for being in possession of 17 AK 47 rifles, 10 pump action guns and about 50 cutlasses.

A credible source hinted Saturday Tribune that the local government boss was allegedly apprehended at the headquarters of his local government on Thursday.

The development came on the heels of the Tuesday arrest of about seven suspected political thugs at the venue of the re-election campaign rally of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, which was held in Ilesa.

CEOAFRICA was reliably informed that no fewer than five single barrel guns and axe, concealed inside a vehicle were seized from the suspects, who have been moved to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for further investigations.

However, the PPRO yesterday evening denied that the local government boss was arrested.

 Tension in Osun as robbers kill 6 in bank raid

There was fear and tension in Modakeke-Ife, Osun State, on Thursday, when armed robbers attacked a new generation bank in the twon, killing  six  persons and  injuring many.

According to  the information gathered by Saturday Tribune, the armed men numbering about six   forced their way into the bank premises situated at Iraye Road, Modakeke in the evening and operated unhindered for hours.

The armed men shot sporadically thus forcing residents, passersby  and shop owners along the route to  run for safety.

  Residents of the area, according to reports alerted the police who engaged the robbers in a gun duel.

“The robbers later escaped with an unconfirmed amount of money through a bush path not far from the bank while policeman gave them a hot chase.”.

Commenting on the development, a resident of the town, who pleaded anonymity, hinted that six lifeless bodies of those killed by the fleeing robbers were taken to the palace of Oba Francis Adedoyin, the Ogunsua of Modakeke.

However, a source informed our correspondent that none of the fleeing armed robbers was arrested, regardless of the prompt arrival of men of Swift Action Squad (SAS) formed by the state government, the mobile policemen from Osun Police Command and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Reacting over the development, Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) for Osun State Police Command, Mrs Folasade  Odoro, said six persons including customers of the bank were shot dead by the armed robbers during the incident.

According to her, Police officers chased the robbers to the outskirt of the town, before they eventually escaped, adding that “men of the Nigeria Police Force are still in search of the robbers.”