Osun shooting: Civil society groups demand removal of Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit head

Activists in Osun State, under the umbrella of Concerned Osun Civil Society Groups, have threatened to embark on mass protest if Moses Lohor, the head of the Osun State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad is not removed from office within a week.

The threat followed the shooting of Wakeel Nurudeen Iyanda Alowonle, the Chairman of the Osun State Transport Management System by the squad late on Monday.

Issuing the threat during a press conference on Wednesday, spokesperson for the civil society groups, Olanrewaju Stephen urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to caution his men in Osun against extrajudicial killings.

The group, which condemned the shooting, also described it as unlawful and unacceptable.

Olanrewaju said, “Before this particular shooting of Alowonle, there were widespread allegations of high- handedness, indiscriminate arrests, extortion, and unannounced killings by the same Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Osun Police Command led by Moses Lohor.

“Following the narrative surrounding the shooting of the park chairman as put out by the Police themselves, one can easily pick holes and conclude that the incident was a direct and intentional attempt to eliminate lyanda Alowonle for obvious reasons.

“The claim that Alowonle attempted to escape and was shot cannot hold water because the victim was shot in the abdomen.

“Common sense dictates that a suspect trying to escape will ordinarily have his back facing the police and not the other way around.

“We seek the immediate removal of Lohor. We recall that not quite long ago, some members of various political groups perceived to be against the current federal government were arrested on the orders of SP Lohor in connection with some political actors to silence opposition voices ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

“We also urge political actors to stop the usage of law enforcement agents to clamp down on soft targets, especially their perceived political enemies.

“We wish to remind them that politics is to serve the people. If politicians who seek to serve the people then become lawbreakers, police officers who swore to protect the Nigerian nation must resist every attempt to be used as agents of destruction.”

DAILY POST recalled that the Police said Alowonle was shot while trying to escape arrest after being found with a pistol and ammunition.

The shooting of Alowonle led to protests in Osogbo on Wednesday by members of his union.

The protests disrupted public transportation within the state.

Osun shooting: Civil society groups demand removal of Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit head