By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
A former House of Representatives aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Ibraheem Bolarinwa Oyekunle, has narrowly escaped an alleged assassination attempt in Abuja. He is calling on the police to launch a full investigation into the incident.
Hon. Oyekunle, who contested in the 2023 general elections to represent the Irewole/Isokan/Ayedaade Federal Constituency of Osun State, revealed in a statement he signed that he was attacked on the evening of Friday, April 4, while returning from the airport and stopping to buy fruits at Gwosa Market along Airport Road.
According to him, he noticed a suspicious ash-coloured Toyota Corolla parked nearby with its number plates concealed.
He said that moments later, several men emerged from the vehicle, and one walked directly toward him before he was surrounded by four armed men.
“They shouted, ‘Surrender yourself!’ and pointed guns at me. Another man was already in front of me with a gun aimed at my head. I instinctively knocked him down, which caused confusion among the others, and they opened fire,” he said.
According to Oyekunle, he managed to flee amidst gunfire, blending into the crowd of panicked traders.
He sustained a head injury and a leg wound during the attack. He was rushed to Sauka Divine Hospital for treatment, later transferred to the Nigerian Air Force Hospital (NAF Base), Abuja, and has since been discharged.
Describing the ordeal as a calculated attempt on his life, the APC chieftain emphasized that the attackers made no attempt to rob him.
“They didn’t ask for money or my car—they just wanted me to ‘surrender.’ This was not a robbery. It was a planned hit.”
Oyekunle called on the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to urgently investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. He also highlighted the broader implications for national security.
“This is not just about me. It’s a wake-up call on the state of security in our country. If something like this can happen in the capital, what hope is there for others?” he asked.
He assured his constituents and supporters of his continued commitment to public service. “This experience has shaken me, but it won’t stop me. I remain determined to serve the people of Irewole/Isokan/Ayedaade and work towards a safer Nigeria.”
Oyekunle also expressed gratitude to the medical personnel who treated him and to the bystanders who came to his aid during the attack.