Tunji Disu, inspector-general of police (IGP), says the police will go after all those involved in the rising wave of violence in Osun state ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The IGP spoke on Friday during a visit to Ademola Adeleke,
governor of Osun, at the government house in Osogbo, where he addressed
concerns over the growing number of killings, clashes, and political tensions in
the state.
“I’m here because of the situation Osun State is turning
into,” the IGP said.
“I’ve taken my time to look at what is happening around
here, and for a number of months now, we have been able to count the number of
deaths and the number of crises and fighting in Osun.
“We are approaching a very important election, and this will
not be entertained by us.
“We’ll go after each and every one who has committed any
crime in this state.”
Disu said he had earlier deployed the deputy
inspector-general of police (DIG) in charge of the zone to engage the state
government and other stakeholders on measures to prevent further bloodshed.
According to him, the forthcoming governorship election
should not be treated as a battle.
“The police will not condone unnecessary killings. It is not
done anywhere in the world. I will not stand by it,” he said.
“This is an election; it is not a war. It’s an election, not
a war.”
The IGP said security agencies had identified groups linked
to the violence, noting that the commissioner of police in the state had been
directed to go after anyone causing trouble.
“Various groups of people who have been involved in this
have been mapped out. The commissioner of police has been given the marching
order to go after anybody causing trouble in the state,” he said.
“You cannot kill anybody and continue to walk around freely
in the town.”
Disu also said he had received complaints from different
quarters and had been briefed by the commissioner of police on allegations that
some suspects were hiding in the government house.
“He briefed me that some suspects are hibernating in the
government house. I looked at that. If that is true, why should suspects be in
the government house?” he asked.
However, he added that the police would handle any such
allegations through lawful procedures, noting that there were also reports that
political actors from different parties were harbouring suspected criminals in
the state.
The IGP appealed to parents to prevent their children from
being recruited as political thugs.
“I know that thugs are employed for elections. Osun State
should be an exception because we are going to bring in more men,” he said.
“If parents are listening to me, let them warn their
children. They shouldn’t allow politicians to use them for elections because it
is only those who are alive that can reap the dividends of the election.”
The IGP further warned that he expected improved performance
from the state police command, noting that both the commissioner of police and
the assistant inspector-general (AIG) overseeing the area had been instructed
to intensify efforts against criminal elements.
“I do not want to hear one more complaint against the
Commissioner of Police,” he said.
“We’ll go after each and every one who has committed any
crime in this state.”
Responding, the governor commended the IGP for the state
visit, asking him to prosecute anyone involved in the killings.
“If you see any of my people committing crime, arrest them.
If it’s my son that is involved, arrest him,” Adeleke said.
BACKGROUND
The development comes amid growing public concerns over the
spate of killings that have engulfed the state in recent weeks.
Supporters of the Accord political party, the platform on
which the governor is seeking re-election, have been locked in a verbal war
with those of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is seeking to reclaim
the state after four years in opposition.
Both parties have accused each other of orchestrating the
violence to gain political advantage ahead of the governorship election.
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