Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has disclosed that five members of the Peoples Democratic Party were killed amid the crisis over the control of the state’s local government areas.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor said the party members were killed as the All Progressives Congress moved to reinstate its local government chairmen removed in 2022 by the court.

“PDP lost five members with several others wounded,” the governor said. “Two of those members are from Iragbiji, Boripe local government. Another two were killed at Ola Oluwa Local government. Another one was lost at Ikire. We must stop the bloodshed.”

“I equally condole families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid and chaos unleashed across the state by the APC and their hired thugs.”

The governor advised residents to avoid all the LG secretariats to prevent further casualties but asked only security operatives to remain in the secretariats to avoid further breakdown of law and order.

“Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed Osun residents, including politicians across political divides, to stay away from the local government secretariats to protect public properties and avoid further bloodshed.

“In a reaction to the current illegal APC takeover bid of local governments in Osun state, the governor affirmed that since the local government workers are on strike, only security agencies should be allowed to man the secretariats,” Mr Adeleke said.

He also assured residents of the safety and protection of lives and properties, noting that he has directed security agencies to take charge of all the LG secretariats.

This came a day after the governor alleged that his predecessor, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, was using his blood ties with President Bola Tinubu to unleash mayhem in the LGAs.