Osun NUJ Condemns Pre-Election Violence as 13 Killed in 44 Incidents

By Oluwaseun Omidiran 

Thirteen persons have been killed in 44 election-related violent incidents in Osun State, prompting the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Osun State Council, to condemn the rising wave of political attacks ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

In a statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, and Secretary, Comrade Olalekan Akindoju, the union warned that the trend poses a grave threat to peace and democracy in the state.

The Council cited a report by the Kimpact Development Initiative, KDI, which recorded the 44 violent incidents and 13 deaths between October 2025 and June 2026.

The NUJ said the figures should serve as a wake-up call to all stakeholders, stressing that no political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen.

It called on security agencies to step up protection of lives and property, maintain professionalism and impartiality, and ensure that perpetrators of violence are prosecuted regardless of political affiliation.

The union also urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to embrace peaceful, issue-based campaigns, and cautioned political leaders against inflammatory statements capable of inciting unrest.

“Political actors have a responsibility to restrain their supporters and place the interest of Osun above personal and partisan considerations,” the statement read.

The Council further appealed to residents, particularly youths, not to allow themselves to be recruited as agents of violence, noting that their lives and future must not be sacrificed for political interests.

Reaffirming its commitment to responsible journalism, the Osun NUJ pledged to promote factual reporting and public enlightenment throughout the electioneering period, while urging media practitioners to uphold professional ethics and avoid sensationalism capable of escalating tension.