TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY DISTINGUISHED SENATOR LERE OYEWUMI AND THE FAMILIES OF THE FOUR PEOPLE KILLED AT NAIRA AND KOBO JUNCTION, IKIRE
PROTOCOLS
Gentlemen of the press, this press conference is organised by families of those killed and wounded at the Naira and Kobo garage, Ikire on Monday 24th of August, 2026. We are here to set the records straight and to vehemently reject the police account which blamed the victims and whitewashed the aggressors.
We watched the police version with sadness and we reject in totality the attempt to twist the fact of the incident in a bid to exonerate the police officers who are involved in the fatal extra judicial killings
As people directly affected by the sad incident, we take exemption to the one sided investigation purportedly effected by the police. 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.
There are so many unanswered questions. There are so many holes which cannot be covered up:
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?
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 take over of the park?
Why did the DPO and his men launch sporadic shooting when the park was peaceful and without any confrontation?
How is it possible for unarmed civilians at motor parks to disarm six fully armed policemen?
We make bold to say that the police has not conducted any investigation because it is desperate to protect the DPO. The culpability of the DPO and his men in this matter cannot be swept under the carpet.
We find it equally disturbing and unacceptable an attempt to drag Senator Lere Oyewumi into the entire matter. As a community leader, Senator Oyewumi actually assisted the police to calm the situation that would have degenerated into communal warfare. 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.
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 muddles up the truth.
We declare that Senator Oyewumi is not in any way involved in the matter. His intervention saved the day as it prevents Ikire from being engulfed in far more serious communal reprisal attacks.
We therefore call for independent investigation. 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.
We demand justice for those unjustly killed and maimed. The police cannot and must not be allowed to lie its way out of the culpability of one of its DPO and officers.
I thank you for listening.