Controversy surrounding the alleged sporadic firing of gunshots, which led to the killing of two civilians in Ikire community of Irewole Local Government Area of Osun recently took a new dimension on Friday as the lawmaker representing Osun West Senatorial District, Senatorial District, Senator Olalere Oyewumi denied link with one of suspects arrested by the Police.

Similarly, the driver of the vehicle, whose passenger was killed during the incident, Azeez Isiaka Idowu alleged that the gunshot that killed the deceased came from the Police Hilux patrol van at the junction of Naira and Kobo, in Ikire.

It is recalled that the Osun State Police Command, had on Thursday paraded four suspects over their alleged involvement in the violence which rocked the Ikire around 10:00 am on Monday.

The newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, listed the four suspects to include Sikiru Ademola Adedeji (21yrs), Olalere Taiwo (21yrs), Olalere Ademola (26yrs) and Bankole Abiodun (20yrs).

Responding to enquiry from journalists at the Police headquarters, Adedeji allegedly mentioned Senator Oyewumi as their ‘Oga’, who ordered them to leave Ikire after the violence in order to evade police arrest.

However, while addressing a press conference organised for the families of the victims in Osogbo, Oyewumi denied any link with the arrested suspects, most especially one Ayewo, who is still at large.

Accusing the Police of bias in its investigation and extracting confessional statement from the suspects under duress, the lawmaker called on the state government to constitute an independent enquiry in order to umask the identities of those involved in the killing of the two victims.

Oyewumi stated, “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

“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.

“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?

Also speaking, the driver of the vehicle, Idowu, whose passenger, Fatai Shobowale, was allegedly killed during the incident, said gunshots were fired by one of the policemen from white Hilux patrol van that emerged at the junction of Naira and Kobo.

He explained that the deceased and his wife boarded his vehicle from Ibadan, heading to Bayelsa when the incident occurred around the pedestrian bridge at Ikire.

“When got to the speed breaker at Naira and Kobo, a white Hilux Police patrol van entered the junction. The first person to fire gunshots was the police officer sitting at the front and I discovered that the man sitting beside had been shot. And I raised the alarm, “Idowu remarked.

Similarly, a relative of Fatal Shobowale, identified as Fatai Shonde, called on the state government to ensure that those involved in the shooting incident were brought to justice.