IGP meets Adeleke over Osun pre-election violence, says suspects hiding in government house
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.
