The killing occurred on Sunday at the Mayfair area of Ile-Ife, where Ajagungbade was reportedly attending a meeting with some drivers. The circumstances surrounding the shooting were initially unclear, although preliminary police information has confirmed that he was shot.
The Osun State Police Command said it has opened an investigation into the incident and is working to establish the circumstances that led to the shooting and identify those responsible. Police Commissioner Ibrahim Zungura also warned against reprisals, urging individuals and groups not to take the law into their own hands.
Reports from the scene indicated that the confrontation was connected to a leadership dispute involving a motor park. A security source cited by Punch said Ajagungbade and members of his group were involved in a confrontation with another group when he was shot. The source alleged that he sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
The violence reportedly continued after the shooting, with clashes spreading beyond the immediate area. There were also reports of gunshots in parts of Osogbo, the state capital, including the Isale Osun and Asoje areas, prompting some residents to remain indoors.
Governor Ademola Adeleke responded by directing the Commissioner of Police to immediately arrest those responsible for the killing and investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. He also ordered security agencies to restore normalcy and directed warring groups to vacate motor parks across the state.
Adeleke said the killing was allegedly connected to a leadership tussle over a motor park and announced plans to reintroduce the Park Management System as part of measures to restore order and regulate the management of parks and garages.
The governor said an Executive Order would be issued to give effect to the new management arrangement, while urging residents to remain calm as security agencies work to prevent further violence.
The police investigation is particularly important because several details surrounding the shooting remain unresolved. While reports have linked the killing to a motor park leadership dispute, authorities have yet to publicly establish the full sequence of events, identify all those involved or determine whether the incident had any wider political dimension.
Ajagungbade's killing comes against the backdrop of heightened political tension in Osun, where previous attacks involving members and supporters of different political groups have generated competing allegations. Those earlier incidents have also prompted calls for impartial investigations rather than politically motivated accusations.
For now, the priority for the authorities is to establish the facts, apprehend anyone found responsible and prevent the violence from spreading. The police have urged residents to cooperate with investigators and refrain from retaliatory attacks while the investigation continues.
The killing has therefore become both a criminal investigation and a test of the state's ability to prevent disputes surrounding motor parks and political activities from escalating into wider violence.
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