On Wednesday, November 20, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke confirmed that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of Moses Lohor, the Head of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad in the state, along with members of his team, for attempted murder.
The announcement was made by Samuel Ojo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, in a statement issued by Olawale Rasheed, the Governor’s spokesperson. The confirmation came after a closed-door meeting between Governor Adeleke and the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Umar Abba.
The crisis began when operatives from the Osun State Police Command Anti-Kidnapping Squad, led by Moses Lohor, allegedly shot Wakeel Nurudeen Iyanda Alowonle, Chairman of the Osun State Transport Management System, on Monday night. Police claimed that Alowonle was shot after attempting to flee arrest when a pistol and ammunition were reportedly found in his car.
However, the state government, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, has raised concerns that the shooting was a case of suspected murder. The government claims that Lohor shot Alowonle in the abdomen at the police station following his arrest over a domestic dispute. Alowonle is currently on life support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Osun State Teaching Hospital in Osogbo.
Ojo stated that the police authorities have condemned Lohor’s actions, describing them as unprofessional, illegal, and unauthorized, violating operational codes. He added that Lohor and his team had been transferred to Abuja for further investigation.
“We can confirm that the police authorities at the highest level have acted decisively on this matter. A clear punitive directive was issued by the IG. Mr. Governor has directed that we follow up to ensure that justice is served,” Ojo said.
