PDP Calls for Investigation into Death of Osun Teenager

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party asked for a fair and clear investigation into the murder of Ezekiel Olapade. The teenager was shot dead in Ilobu by people believed to be political thugs.

The party also urged the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to oversee the investigation and ensure justice is done.

This call for action was made in a statement from Osogbo, Osun State, signed by the party’s chairman, Sunday Bisi.

Bisi condemned the killing and insisted that everyone involved should be thoroughly investigated. He stressed that it does not matter what political party they belong to or their status.

The PDP chairman claimed that police officers invaded the home of the PDP chairman in Irepodun Local Government Area on June 29. He said the police did not invite the chairman before this raid.

Bisi also noted that during this operation, the police damaged the belongings of the party chairman.

“The PDP sees this situation as troubling. It gives the impression that the investigation is being shifted away from those linked to the crime towards political rivals,” the statement said.

The party called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, and other relevant bodies to monitor the investigation closely. They want the probe to be fair, professional, and free from political bias.

Bisi asked for “a thorough, clear, and fair investigation into the murder of Ezekiel Olapade. We also want an investigation into the threats allegedly made against Amotekun personnel before the attack. Furthermore, we want to question the owners of the vehicle used by the suspected political thugs during the attack.”

He demanded an explanation from the Osun State Police Command about the raid at the PDP chairman’s home. Bisi sought assurance that law enforcement agencies would stay politically neutral and uphold justice.

He said the PDP would keep supporting the family of the late Olapade in their search for justice. He promised to resist any attempt to politicize or compromise the investigation.

Attempts to reach the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, were unsuccessful. Calls to his mobile phone did not connect, and he had not responded to WhatsApp messages at the time of writing.

The PUNCH reported that one Kareem Saheed, known as Tanfeani, is accused of leading thugs to the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat on the day Ezekiel Olapade was shot. He was paraded by the Osun State Police Command.

Tanfeani was shown alongside 23 others arrested for crimes like being part of an unlawful group and thuggery. This was done at the command headquarters in Osogbo by Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.

Gbenga Olapade, the father of the 14-year-old victim, told reporters that Tanfeani led a gang that attacked his wife’s palm wine bar near the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat on June 21.

Olapade explained that Ezekiel was shot by thugs led by Tanfeani when they noticed a man in a yellow cap inside the palm wine bar and aimed at him.

Tanfeani denied killing Ezekiel when he spoke to reporters. He blamed members of the Accord Party for his troubles.

He said, “I am an Executive Assistant to the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government. I did not even go to the area where the deceased was killed on that day. I was in our party office in Ilobu. Accord Party people are lying about me.

“The video of me with a gun was recorded on Friday, June 19. Some Accord Party thugs attacked us at the Irepodun Local Government, and I took the gun they brought to attack us. That is what I had in the video. I am being targeted because I belong to the APC.”