Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of suspected political thugs operating across the state, insisting that those responsible for violent crimes must be brought to justice.
The governor made the demand while receiving the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the ICT Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Adegoke Fayoade, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Osogbo.
The delegation also included the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone XI, Akinyele Fasuba, and the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.
In a statement issued on Friday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke expressed concern over what he described as increasing political violence and accused some police officers of failing to discharge their duties impartially.
According to the governor, violence in the state has worsened due to what he called negligence and partisanship by certain members of the police command.
“You are in this state at a time negligence and partisanship of some of your officers have worsened political violence in the state.
“You visit us at a time some policemen are openly known to be collaborating with political thugs to unleash violence on our people. Your official entrance comes at a time when we have recorded three unresolved political murders in the last few weeks, namely Eluyera at Ikire, Ezekiel at Ilobu and Aderogba at Esa Oke. There has been no single arrest,” Adeleke said.
The governor alleged that despite a series of attacks and killings linked to political violence, the police had failed to apprehend any suspects.
He further claimed that armed political thugs had recently driven through parts of the state, firing shots indiscriminately and vandalising campaign materials belonging to the Accord Party without facing any consequences.
“In Osun today, political thugs drove round the town, shooting sporadically, attacking innocent residents. They destroyed Accord billboards. Yet, the police command looks the other way.
“Even when the suspects are well known, there have been no single arrests. Only in Osun State do we have police operatives eager to arrest Accord members on the most minor of grounds but have yet to arrest a single suspect in a series of murders and gun attacks,” he alleged.
Adeleke maintained that the Osun State Commissioner of Police had failed to demonstrate fairness and professionalism in handling security matters and therefore called for his redeployment.
“We task you to convey our position to the police leadership of which you are an integral part. Osun people want free and fair polls. Our people seek a peaceful environment to cast their votes. We need the reshuffling of the state police command to secure impartial policing.
“I have listened to the message from the IGP. We wait to see the outcome of these interventions. We count on you to stop the spate of killings. Your state police commissioner has failed us,” the governor stated.
Responding during the visit, DIG Fayoade assured the governor that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had directed security authorities to restore peace and ensure that perpetrators of violence are investigated and prosecuted.
He said both the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Commissioner of Police had received clear instructions to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
“I have also directed the AIG and the Commissioner of Police on the order of the IG, that any act of murder or brigandage or any unlawful act perpetrated in the state must be fully investigated. Anybody found culpable should be arrested and prosecuted,” Fayoade said.
The senior police officer also assured residents that adequate security measures would be put in place ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.
He pointed to the peaceful conduct of recent elections in Anambra and Ekiti states as examples of the standard the Nigeria Police Force intends to maintain.
“I want to assure you that the Osun State forthcoming elections will be conducted under a very peaceful atmosphere.
“We can recall the last election in Anambra, just last Saturday Ekiti election was conducted under a very peaceful atmosphere and we don’t want anything different from that in Osun State. That is the standard that has been set and that is the standard we are going to follow,” he said.
Fayoade further pledged that the police would remain neutral and operate strictly within the provisions of the law.
“Your Excellency, I am assuring you that the police will live up to the expectation. The police commissioner and his men will perform their duties in line with the Constitution and in line with the rule of law.
“We are not going to allow anybody to violate the law of the land and cause any havoc or any uneasiness in the state,” he added.
