Tension erupted at the Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Sunday morning after gunshots were reportedly fired and teargas deployed during an alleged attempt by suspected thugs, escorted by armed police personnel, to take control of the facility.

The incident occurred despite the Osun State Government’s directive suspending activities of transport unions in motor parks across the State.

According to multiple sources who spoke to reporters, the alleged thugs were escorted to the park by armed policemen, triggering panic among motorists, traders and residents in the area.

A video obtained by news reporters appeared to show police officers firing weapons and deploying teargas during the incident at the Mayfair Motor Park.

Osun Government Suspends NURTW Activities Amid Violence

Sources expressed concern that the alleged action by some police officers could undermine the State Government’s efforts to prevent motor parks from becoming flashpoints for violence.

“The Governor’s order is to ensure normalcy is restored to the parks. Imagine that the Police that should be concerned about peace now escorts thugs to go against the Governor’s order. It is an unfortunate situation,” a source said.

According to another source, personnel of the Nigerian Navy in Ile-Ife later intervened following the sporadic gunfire and alleged takeover of the park, arresting four suspected thugs allegedly found with pump-action guns.

“After shootings to scare away people and harassing motorists, men of the Nigerian Navy at Ile-Ife intervened to stop the police-aided thugs from the invasion of the Mayfair Park and arrested four thugs with pump-action guns,” the source said.

The incident came days after the Osun State Government suspended activities at motor parks and the collection of levies in response to growing security concerns and repeated clashes linked to transport union operations.

Last Thursday, Governor Ademola Adeleke ordered the immediate suspension of all activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in motor parks across the State.

He also directed security agencies to arrest anyone operating in the name of the union.

Governor Adeleke Orders Crackdown Ahead of August Election

The directive followed a meeting of the Osun State Security Council chaired by the Governor, where measures were considered to restore order and improve public safety following recent violence associated with motor park operations.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the State Government said the decision followed extensive deliberations on the security situation and the need to restore sanity to motor parks across Osun State.

However, Adeleke clarified that commercial transport operations were to continue without interruption despite the suspension of union activities.

He also ordered the immediate suspension of all levies collected in motor parks and directed security agencies to arrest anyone parading as an official or executive of the union.

“I hereby direct the police and other security agencies to stop all activities of the union in all our parks across the State. I am not saying you should close the parks, but you should not allow anyone to operate in the parks in the name of the union.

“Anyone found contravening this order should be arrested for possible prosecution for disturbance of public peace,” the Governor said.

Adeleke later explained that the suspension was aimed at creating an atmosphere for peace to return and did not amount to the dissolution of the existing NURTW leadership in the State.

The government also maintained that Nurudeen Alowonle remains the substantive Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the NURTW, stressing that neither Adeleke nor the State Government removed any duly appointed union official.

In a statement issued on Friday, Alimi clarified that Alowonle and his executives across the local government areas remained the recognised leadership of the union.

Earlier last Monday, Adeleke condemned repeated shootings and the intimidation of residents around Old Garage and other motor parks in Osogbo.

“The video of sporadic shooting by Asiri Eniba and his gang is everywhere on social media. Lorry loads of policemen accompanied Asiri and his group as they paraded across motorway parks in the State,” the Governor said.

Adeleke said he had brought the matter to the attention of the nation’s top security authorities and demanded immediate action against those allegedly responsible for the violence.

“I have personally called the attention of the Inspector General of Police and other service chiefs to these open attacks on public peace. I demand immediate arrest of Asiri Eniba for this open defiance of public security act.”

With the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election less than three weeks away, security concerns have continued to grow amid recurring violent incidents that have resulted in deaths, injuries and property destruction.

Efforts to obtain comments from the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi Zechariah, were unsuccessful.

For more on Osun security updates, see Osun State Government.