12-year-old boy shot during APC campaign in Osun, protests erupt

Yesterday, a 12-year-old boy was allegedly shot during an APC campaign in Ilesa, Osun State, and the whole town is in uproar. The boy was reportedly sitting inside his mother's shop when gunshots rang out during the campaign on Saturday morning. An eyewitness told SaharaReporters that the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Akerele, was allegedly present with operatives of the Amotekun Corps when the incident occurred.

The eyewitness alleged that the Amotekun operatives and the lawmaker shot at APC members during the campaign, resulting in injuries to several people. The eyewitness said, "Scores of APC members also sustained injuries." The condition of the injured boy and the number of people affected could not be independently verified as of press time, but a photograph obtained by SaharaReporters shows the boy lying on what appears to be a hospital bed.

Protests have erupted in parts of Ilesa, with residents demanding an investigation into the alleged shooting of the minor. Attempts to obtain official reactions from the Osun State Police Command, Amotekun Corps, and the lawmaker were not immediately successful. This is the kind of incident that makes you wonder what has become of our political campaigns. How can a child caught in the middle of political violence be acceptable in any democracy? What happens to the boy's family if no one is held accountable?