My convoy was attacked by political thugs not protesting youths — Oyetola

The Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reacted to the deadly attack on his convoy in Osogbo, the state capital, on Saturday, saying he was attacked by political thugs and not protesting youths.

He made the clarification in a broadcast to the people of the state this morning.

Two persons were reportedly killed during the attack, one of whom was a motorcyclist said to have been hit by a stray bullet at Oke Ayepe area of the state capital. The other fell off his motorcycle and died during the commotion.

Oyetola had narrowly escaped during the attack by armed thugs while addressing the #EndSARS protesters in Osogbo.

The attackers armed with cutlasses and sticks had swooped on the governor at Olaiya Junction while addressing the #EndSARS protesters.

The governor was immediately taken away from the scene by his security details.

Vehicles in the governor’s convoy were damaged by the hoodlums, who threw stones in their direction.

The governor had joined protesters in the walk from the Alekuwodo area of Osogbo to Olaiya Junction, singing with them and promising them that their demands would be looked into.

He said those who attacked the convoy on Saturday made attempts to assassinate him and some of his political aides.

“My attackers were not the genuine youths who were protesting under the aegis of #EndSARS,” Oyetola said.

The governor, however, dissociated himself from those that were killed in the Saturday mayhem explaining that he joined the protest from Okefia and walked to Olaiya Junction, where he addressed the peaceful protesters before the process was hijacked by hoodlums.

“The deaths from yesterday’s protest were not in any way linked to me as my security personnel did not fire live ammunition or teargas at the protesters.