The Concerned Citizens of Nigeria (CCN), a non-political civic organisation, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of one of its members, Mr. Iyiola Monsuru, following his arrest after reporting a tragic incident at the residence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2026 election, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, in Ikire, Osun State.
In a statement issued at the weekend, the organisation said it was informed that Monsuru was arrested on Friday after he drew attention to what it described as an “ugly and unfortunate” incident that occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the APC candidate’s residence. The group expressed concern that the arrest followed the reporting of an incident involving loss of lives, raising questions about civic responsibility and freedom of expression.
According to information made available by CCN, the incident occurred at about 5:00 a.m. during the distribution of relief items, reportedly two modu of rice and envelopes allegedly containing 2,000 naira each. The exercise was said to have attracted a large crowd, leading to a stampede.
Tragically, the stampede reportedly resulted in the death of a woman identified as Mrs. Buli Balogun, popularly known as Iya Eleelo, as well as two other individuals. The organisation described the deaths as deeply unfortunate and said the circumstances surrounding the incident deserved thorough and transparent investigation.
CCN stated that as a responsible and law-abiding civic organisation, it believes that incidents involving loss of lives should be properly investigated rather than suppressed. The group warned that the arrest of a citizen for reporting such an occurrence could have a chilling effect on public willingness to speak up on matters of public interest.
“The arrest of our member for drawing attention to an incident of this magnitude raises serious concerns about the protection of civic duty and freedom of expression,” the organisation said.
The group recalled that shortly after the incident, it had released a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Apesin Abiodun Adegoke, calling on the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to immediately intervene and ensure justice for the deceased and their families.
In that earlier statement, CCN reportedly referenced a similar tragic incident in Ibadan involving veteran radio presenter Oriyomi Hamzat and Olori Silekunola Ogunwusi, where authorities pursued investigations despite the prominence of those involved. The organisation argued that justice should be applied consistently, regardless of social status, political affiliation, or influence.
Concerned Citizens of Nigeria said it was disappointed that rather than focusing on a transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to the stampede and deaths, attention appeared to have shifted to the arrest of an individual who reported the matter.
The organisation is now demanding the immediate release of Monsuru, insisting that his continued detention is unjustified. It urged the police and other security agencies to redirect their efforts toward conducting a proper, unbiased, and comprehensive investigation into the Ikire incident.
“Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done,” the statement said, stressing that accountability is essential to maintaining public trust in law enforcement and democratic institutions.
CCN also expressed its willingness to cooperate fully with security agencies in the course of any investigation aimed at uncovering the facts surrounding the incident. The group said such cooperation would be guided by its commitment to justice, accountability, and the rule of law.
The organisation maintained that ensuring a fair investigation and safeguarding the rights of citizens who report matters of public concern are critical to preventing similar tragedies in the future.
The statement was signed by Apesin Abiodun Adegoke, National Coordinator of Concerned Citizens of Nigeria.
