The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on the police and other security agencies to launch a manhunt for the killers of its member, Ridwan Adeyemo, who was reportedly hacked to death by armed assailants in Ibadan.
The party alleged that Adeyemo, a commercial motorcyclist and APC member in Ward 06 of Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, was attacked on Friday at Ita-Barika, Agbokojo area of the state capital.
The APC further alleged that the killing might have been politically motivated, claiming that eyewitnesses said the assailants questioned Adeyemo about his choice of party before attacking him with machetes. The allegation has yet to be independently established.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the deceased’s family compound on Saturday, the APC State Secretary, Hon. Fatai Adesina, who led members of the party’s State Executive Committee, condemned the killing and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Adesina said the incident had thrown the community into shock and heightened concerns over the safety of political party members in the state.
“We received the shocking news of the dastardly act at the late hours of Friday. It became more regrettable when we got to know that the deceased was attacked and hacked down because he was an APC loyalist, as eyewitness account had it that his killers queried him on why he chose our party over the APM before inflicting many machete cuts on him and eventually hacking him to death,” he said.
The APC official said the party had information that could assist investigations but would not disclose details for fear of jeopardising police efforts.
He described Adeyemo as an easy-going and responsible citizen whose death had left his family devastated, noting that he was survived by an aged mother and a pregnant wife.
APC Raises Alarm Over Political Thuggery
Adesina said the killing had reinforced the party’s concerns about the activities of alleged political thugs and hoodlums in Ibadan and other parts of Oyo State.
He recalled that the APC leadership had recently called on security agencies to take proactive measures against threats to opposition party members.
According to him, the party was concerned that political violence could escalate as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.
“The onus is now on the security agencies to launch a manhunt for those who killed Adeyemo as well as their sponsors with a view to making them face the full wrath of the law,” Adesina said.
He added that the APC would support the bereaved family and assist the police with relevant information to facilitate the investigation.
The party also pledged to continue advocating peaceful political engagement ahead of the next general elections.
“We will help the Police in their investigation and also continue to preach peace as we move closer to the 2027 general elections,” he said.
The APC urged security agencies to ensure that those responsible for Adeyemo’s death were identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
As of the time of the statement, the allegations of political motivation and the identities of the suspected assailants had not been independently confirmed.
