The single sharpest fact in one or two punchy sentences. Who did what, where, when, and why it matters. Not a summary of everything — the one thing that makes someone stop scrolling. A reader who only reads this paragraph must understand what happened.

Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke has been accused by the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council of releasing notorious criminals from prison using his prerogative of mercy power. This comes two days before the Osun state gubernatorial election. The APC campaign council claimed that the Governor released the criminals within the last two months.

The Director-General of Osun Central APC campaign council, Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, alleged that the Governor released some hardened criminals in prison, including Sahid Sabo, Taoreed Ademola aka Small Rugged, and Esubiyi who was in jail for murder. The accused individuals have reportedly been involved in series of attacks and killings after their release from prison.

The APC campaign council has intelligence report that some of its members have been penciled down for attack by the Accord Party, using Amotekun personnel for the nefarious act. There was a meeting of Accord and government leadership that a week to the election, they will strike by trailing leaders of APC and kill them. The plan is to use Amotekun for these criminal activities.

Responding to the allegation, the Deputy Director-General of Imole Campaign Council, Kolapo Alimi, dismissed the claim as false. He said that the Governor has not exercised his power of mercy in two years, and that the APC is being dishonest.

The Imole Campaign Council has urged the Inspector General of Police to address the people of the state on a violence-free election. They accused the Police Command of gross harassment, abuse of human rights, and arbitrary arrest and detention of Accord Party chieftains and members.

The council said that the controversial reinstatement of CP Ibrahim Gotan as the Commissioner of Police for Osun State is concerning. They claimed that CP Gotan was transferred to Force Headquarters last Thursday following the outrage that followed his shameful outing. The council also claimed that the Inspector-General of Police reinstated CP Gotan following pressure from the APC.

And the story gets murkier by the hour. As we write this, the Osun state gubernatorial election is mere days away. The APC, PDP, and Accord Party are all in a tight contest. But amidst all the politicking, there is a deeper story of power, corruption, and violence.

"Within the last eight weeks, some hardened criminals in prison have been released and the Governor reportedly released them on a prerogative of mercy. Some of them are Sahid Sabo, Taoreed Ademola aka Small Rugged, Esubiyi who was in jail for murder, Farounbi from Ede, Amos Ayomide Aderibigbe, a close ally of Emir Ajagungbade, who defiled a five year old girl," Mr. Adebayo Adeleke said.

Key Facts

  • Within the last eight weeks, six hardened criminals in prison have been released.
  • The Governor reportedly released the criminals on a prerogative of mercy.
  • The accused individuals include Sahid Sabo, Taoreed Ademola, Esubiyi, Farounbi, Amos Ayomide Aderibigbe, and another individual known as Emir Ajagungbade.
  • The accused individuals have reportedly been involved in series of attacks and killings after their release from prison.
  • The Imole Campaign Council has urged the Inspector General of Police to address the people of the state on a violence-free election.
  • The Inspector General of Police has been accused of reinstating CP Ibrahim Gotan as the Commissioner of Police for Osun State following pressure from the APC.