With barely 24 hours to the Osun State governorship election, suspected political thugs have allegedly attacked the palace of the Aree of Iree, Oba Muritala Oyelakin.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 2am on Friday, raising fresh concerns over security and the safety of traditional institutions ahead of Saturday’s election.

Attackers arrive in two vehicles

The monarch, while speaking with newsmen in Iree on Friday, said the attackers arrived at his palace in two Sienna vehicles.

According to him, the occupants of the vehicles allegedly fired shots into the air before turning their weapons towards the gate of the palace.

He said the incident happened while he was in a prayer session with some people on the palace premises.

Oba Oyelakin explained that the presence of people in the palace may have prevented the assailants from gaining access to the premises.

“I saw two Sienna vehicles; one of the assailants first shot into the air before firing at the gate,” the monarch said.

He added that the attackers appeared to have been discouraged by the fact that the palace was illuminated and people were still awake inside.

Monarch uses lights to scare attackers

Oba Oyelakin said he deliberately switched the lights in the palace off and on repeatedly after noticing the presence of the suspected attackers.

According to him, the action was intended to give the impression that several people were moving around the premises and to discourage the assailants from attempting to gain entry.

“The lights were on at the time because I was in a prayer session, with some people still present on the premises,” he said.

“I repeatedly switched the lights off and on to give the impression that people were present and scared the attackers away.”

The monarch said the suspected attackers eventually left the area without gaining access to the palace.

The incident has raised concerns among residents, particularly as the state prepares for the governorship election scheduled to take place on Saturday.

Monarch demands investigation

The Aree of Iree expressed concern over the incident and urged security agencies to immediately investigate the attack.

He called for the identification and arrest of the persons responsible, stressing that the perpetrators should be brought to justice.

“I want to call on all security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice,” the monarch said.

The call comes as security agencies intensify preparations across Osun State ahead of the election, with authorities expected to maintain law and order before, during and after the exercise.

The alleged attack on the monarch’s palace has also added to concerns about possible violence and intimidation as political parties and their supporters prepare for the crucial poll.

The monarch did not identify any political party or individual as being behind the incident, and the allegation remains subject to investigation by the relevant security authorities.

Residents of Iree and neighbouring communities are expected to remain vigilant while security agencies work to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported shooting and determine whether the incident was politically motivated.

With the election only hours away, stakeholders have continued to urge political actors and their supporters to avoid violence and allow voters to exercise their franchise peacefully.