Gunmen opened fire near the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo while Governor Ademola Adeleke was visiting the monarch, triggering a gun battle with the governor’s security aides that reportedly lasted between 12 and 15 minutes.
Osun is located in Nigeria’s South-West region
Gunmen suspected to be political thugs on Wednesday opened fire very close to the palace of the monarch of Osogbo, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji
The incident occurred while the monarch was hosting Governor Ademola Adeleke.
It was gathered that there was an exchange of gunfire between the assailants, who came in a space bus, and the governor’s security aides for about 12 to 15 minutes.
Adeleke had arrived at the Ataoja’s palace at about 3:15 p.m. in a motorcade of about 20 vehicles after leaving the Osun State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo, where he received his Certificate of Return following his re-election last Saturday.
According to an eyewitness who narrated the incident under condition of anonymity for security reasons, the governor and his entourage were being received by Oba Oyetunji, where the governor reportedly presented his Certificate of Return to the monarch.
The incident reportedly caused panic in the area as traders and other residents fled their businesses and sought safety during the shooting.
When contacted, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed the incident.
He said the assailants might be rival cultist groups engaging each other.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, failed as he was not accessible via his telephone lines.
Adeleke had on Wednesday announced measures aimed at supporting families affected by electoral violence in the build-up to the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The governor announced that the children and dependents of people who lost their lives in the build-up to the election would receive automatic scholarships up to university level.
He also pledged that the Osun State Government would establish a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to provide relief and support to verified victims and families affected by the violence.
