Group Condemns Daylight Shooting by Alleged Political Thugs in Osun

The Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC) has condemned the alleged daylight shooting by political thugs in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, describing the incident as a threat to public peace and democratic processes.

The group, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Oluomo Success, said the incident, which was captured in a viral video, represented a dangerous decline in political engagement and could undermine the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

CCNC expressed concern that Nigeria was already battling widespread insecurity and warned that political violence would further worsen the security situation.

“Politics, in a democracy, must be governed by the ballot, not by bullets. Elections are to be won through persuasion, policies, and the will of the electorate, not through intimidation or violence,” the group stated.

According to statement, “The Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens notes with grave consternation the reprehensible incident of daylight shooting perpetrated by alleged political thugs in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State. This act of violence, captured in circulating video evidence, represents an intolerable degeneration of our political discourse and poses an imminent threat to public order and civic tranquility.

“Nigeria is already contending with pervasive insecurity wrought by banditry and violent criminality. It is therefore incongruous, and indeed deleterious, for political actors to compound this precarious situation by deploying intimidation and force as instruments of political contestation. Politics, in a democracy, must be governed by the ballot, not by bullets. Elections are to be won through persuasion, policy, and the sovereign will of the electorate, not through coercion or the sacrifice of citizens’ lives for cheap political advantage.

“We unequivocally condemn this brazen act and call upon the following security institutions to discharge their constitutional mandate with alacrity and neutrality:

The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command; The Director, Department of State Services, Osun State; and The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun State.

We urge you to act as impartial arbiters, not partisan participants. The primary duty of the state is the protection of life and property, and this obligation admits of no political bias. We further demand an immediate and thorough investigation into the viral footage depicting armed elements affiliated with a particular political party engaging in shooting in Osogbo. Perpetrators must be identified and brought to justice without delay.

With elections imminent, the eruption of such violence in the pre-election period portends grave implications for election day itself. Should decisive action be lacking, the Coalition shall have no recourse but to explore the last recourse of organized civic engagement, including confrontation through lawful and constitutional means, to safeguard the peace and integrity of Osun State.

Osun State has long been recognized as one of the most peaceful states in the federation. That reputation must not be imperiled by the machinations of political desperation. We remain resolute in our demand for a peaceful electoral environment in which all political parties are afforded equal rights and protections under the law.

We shall not relent until Osun remains peaceful, and until democratic norms are upheld without compromise.