Families of the victims of the violence at the Naira and Kobo garage in Ikire, Osun State and Senator representing Osun west, Lere Oyewumi, have rejected the police account of the incident, accusing the command of attempting to blame the victims and shield officers allegedly involved in the killings.
The families made their position known on Friday at a press conference organised to address the August 24, 2026 incident and what they described as an unsatisfactory investigation by the police.
They said they were particularly disturbed by what they described as a one-sided account of the incident, insisting that the police version did not reflect what happened at the motor park.
“We are here to set the records straight and to vehemently reject the police account which blamed the victims and whitewashed the aggressors,” the families said.
They alleged that the police had attempted to “twist the fact of the incident” to exonerate officers allegedly involved in what they described as “fatal extra-judicial killings.”
According to the families, those directly affected by the incident were not sufficiently given the opportunity to present their accounts before the police concluded its investigation.
“As people directly affected by the sad incident, we take exception to the one-sided investigation purportedly effected by the police,” they said.
“It is surprising and shocking that the police did not allow those present to speak from the palace to the conclusion of its investigation. Yet, it went ahead to declare a verdict and even proceeded to put alleged suspects under duress to make false confessional statements.”
The families said several questions surrounding the incident remained unanswered, particularly the circumstances that brought the Divisional Police Officer and his men to the Naira and Kobo garage.
“The Naira and Kobo garage was peaceful as at the day of the incident. So what was the DPO doing at the Naira and Kobo garage?” they asked.
They also questioned whether the police operation was connected to alleged moves by political actors to take control of motor parks in Osun State.
“The storming of the park by the DPO came on the day the APC thugs vowed to take over Osun motor parks. Is the DPO at the park to assist the takeover of the park?” the families queried.
They further challenged the circumstances surrounding the shooting at the park, alleging that there had been no confrontation before the police action.
“Why did the DPO and his men launch sporadic shooting when the park was peaceful and without any confrontation?” they asked.
The families also questioned the police account of an alleged confrontation between officers and civilians.
“How is it possible for unarmed civilians at motor parks to disarm six fully armed policemen?” they asked.
The families alleged that the police investigation was designed to protect the DPO and other officers allegedly involved in the incident.
“We make bold to say that the police has not conducted any investigation because it is desperate to protect the DPO,” they said.
“The culpability of the DPO and his men in this matter cannot be swept under the carpet.”
Families defend Oyewumi
The families also rejected attempts to link Senator Lere Oyewumi to the incident, saying the senator played a role in calming the situation after the killings.
Rather than being involved in the violence, they said Oyewumi intervened to prevent the situation from degenerating into communal reprisal attacks.
“As a community leader, Senator Oyewumi actually assisted the police to calm the situation that would have degenerated into communal warfare,” the families said.
“He prevailed on the Ikire residents not to take laws into their own hands and also assisted the Commissioner of Police to navigate the troubled spots amidst residents’ near mob action.”
They therefore described attempts to associate the senator with the incident as unfair, while also alleging that pressure was being mounted on an alleged suspect to link him to the killings.
“To now turn around to label the Senator is uncharitable. To pressure an alleged suspect to make such a linkage is even more unethical and a brazen attempt to muddle up the truth,” they said.
The families maintained that Oyewumi had no involvement in the killings, adding that his intervention helped prevent a more serious crisis in Ikire.
“We declare that Senator Oyewumi is not in any way involved in the matter. His intervention saved the day as it prevented Ikire from being engulfed in far more serious communal reprisal attacks,” they said.
Demand independent investigation
The families consequently called for an independent investigation into the killings, saying the circumstances surrounding the deaths and injuries must be thoroughly established.
“We therefore call for independent investigation,” they said.
They also urged the Osun State Government to expedite the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the incident and other related issues.
“We call on the state government to fast-track the setting up of the commission of enquiry to look into this and other related issues,” they added.
The families demanded justice for the victims and those who were wounded during the incident, insisting that no attempt should be made to shield anyone found culpable.
“We demand justice for those unjustly killed and maimed,” they said.
“The police cannot and must not be allowed to lie its way out of the culpability of one of its DPO and officers.”
The families said they would continue to seek justice for the victims and urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the Ikire killings were subjected to a transparent and impartial investigation.
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