Two people were feared killed in Ikire, Osun State, on Monday following an alleged attempt to take over a motor park at Naira and Kobo Junction in the town.
Videos obtained by PUNCH Online showed one man seated inside a vehicle and appearing lifeless, with an open wound on his head. Another image showed a man lying face down in a pool of blood.
Sources who spoke on the incident on condition of anonymity said the motor park had been controlled by drivers allegedly loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) until some drivers believed to be members of the Accord Party arrived at about 10:30 a.m. and allegedly attempted to take over the park.
An eyewitness said the confrontation escalated into violence, during which a newly donated Toyota Hilux vehicle at the Ikire Divisional Police Station was reportedly damaged, with its windscreen smashed and tyres damaged.
Another resident alleged that an Accord Party member was shot during the clash.
The source said members of the party subsequently went to the palace of the Akire of Ikire to report the incident and alleged that the Divisional Police Officer was involved in the violence.
However, during the meeting at the palace, police reportedly claimed that members of the Accord Party had abducted the Secretary of the Palm Oil Sellers Association in Ikire. According to the account, officers were pursuing the alleged abductors when an exchange of gunfire occurred, resulting in a stray bullet hitting one person.
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, were unsuccessful.
Calls to his mobile phone rang out, while responses to text messages sent to him were still being awaited as of the time of filing the report.
The circumstances surrounding the reported deaths remain unclear, as authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the incident.