Adeleke Demands Redeployment Of Osun Police Commissioner

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of suspected political thugs operating in the state, insisting that perpetrators of violent crimes must no longer be allowed to evade justice.

The governor also accused some police officers of negligence and partisanship, alleging that their conduct had fuelled political violence in the state.

Naija News reports that Adeleke’s remark was contained in a statement issued on Friday through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

The Governor, while receiving the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the ICT Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Adegoke Fayoade, during a visit to the Government House in Osogbo, said the visiting DIG arrived in Osun at a time when alleged negligence and partisanship by some police personnel had worsened the security situation in the state.

According to the governor, some officers were openly collaborating with political thugs, thereby emboldening violent attacks on innocent residents.

“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 further alleged that armed political thugs had recently driven around parts of the state shooting indiscriminately and attacking residents 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 has yet to arrest a single suspect in a series of murders and gun attacks,” he added.

Adeleke maintained that the current Commissioner of Police had failed to demonstrate fairness and impartiality in handling security matters, insisting that the police command in the state should be reorganised.

“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 said.

Responding, Fayoade said the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had already directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and the Osun Commissioner of Police to take charge of the security situation and ensure that violence was brought under control.

He disclosed that the police hierarchy had instructed the command to thoroughly investigate all cases of murder, brigandage and other criminal acts in the state.

“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 DIG also assured residents that adequate security arrangements would be put in place to guarantee a peaceful atmosphere during the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

“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, the 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.

“Your Excellency, I am assuring you that the police will live up to expectation. The police commissioner and his men will perform their duties in line with the Constitution and the rule of law. We are not going to allow anybody to violate the law of the land and cause any havoc or uneasiness in the state,” he said.

Also on the delegation were the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone XI Headquarters, Osogbo, Akinyele Fasuba, and the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.