A group of Concerned Civil Societies in Osun State has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to direct the removal of the Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Osun State Police Command, SP Moses Lohor, within seven days or face mass protests.

The CSOs also asked Egbetokun to immediately direct an urgent investigation into the shooting of the Chairman of Osun State Transport Management System (OSTMS), Nurudeen Iyanda, popularly known as Alowonle, allegedly by Lohor.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday, spokesperson for the Concerned Civil Society Groups in the state, Stephen Olanrewaju, decried the arrest and shooting of the transport workers boss, alleging the involvement of political interests in the situation.

The groups also condemned the involvement of law enforcement agents, especially the police in the arrest of perceived political enemies of some political actors, saying the act is capable of truncating the peaceful coexistence of the state.

Describing Alowonle’s shooting as inexcusable, Olarewaju condemned the development, saying, before Alowonle was shot, 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 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,” he said.

Demanding urgent intervention of the IGP, the group further sought for thorough investigation of the matter and dispensation of justice to erring officers.

Olarewaju urged the IGP to caution his men in Osun against any form of extrajudicial killings witnessed in times past, as it can further disrupt the peace of the state.

He warned political actors in the state against using law enforcement agents to clamp down on soft targets, especially their perceived political enemies.