The House of Representatives candidate of the Accord for the Ijesa South Federal Constituency in the 2027 General Election, Hon. Alaba Popoola (Alabama), has called on the people of Ijesaland to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding following the disturbing incident of June 25, 2026, involving the alleged abduction of two Accord Party stakeholders in Ilesa East Local Government Area, Hon. Kasumu Simiyu and Mr. Iyiola Dagunduro.
According to accounts provided by the victims and eyewitnesses, several individuals have been identified as suspects in the alleged abduction. Those named include Mr. Aluko Oluwatobi (popularly known as “Lucifer”), Mr. Lasisi Ojo Abdullahi, and Mr. Asu Bitter, who were alleged to have participated in the incident while armed with firearms, axes, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons.
Hon. Popoola expressed grave concern over the incident and the growing sense of fear among residents, stressing that allegations of politically motivated violence, intimidation, and abduction have no place in a democratic society.
He noted that the accounts reportedly given by the victims after their release, coupled with eyewitness testimonies and videos circulating in the public domain, have raised serious public concerns that require an immediate, transparent, and impartial investigation by the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies.
“It is unacceptable that allegations of this magnitude involving violence, intimidation, and abduction should remain unresolved without a swift and transparent investigation,” Hon. Popoola stated. “The people of Ijesaland deserve justice, accountability, and the assurance that no individual is above the law.”
He further expressed concern over comments reportedly made by the Osun State Police Command through its Public Relations Officer regarding the incident and called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately constitute a special investigative team to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into all aspects of the case.
Hon. Popoola urged the police to invite, investigate, and where the evidence so warrants, arrest all individuals named by the victims and eyewitnesses in accordance with the law. He emphasized that every allegation must be properly examined through due process and that any person found culpable should be prosecuted.
“The objective is not persecution, but justice,” he said. “Every victim deserves justice, every allegation deserves a thorough investigation, and every suspect is entitled to fair hearing and due process under the law.”
He also appealed to political stakeholders, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organizations, and security agencies to work together to preserve peace while ensuring that justice is neither delayed nor denied.
Hon. Popoola reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law and the protection of the lives and rights of all citizens, assuring the people of Ijesaland that every lawful effort will be pursued to ensure accountability and prevent a recurrence of such incidents. He posited.
