ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for the arrest and prosecution of suspected political thugs behind violent attacks across the state, insisting that the recurring violence must end.
The governor also renewed his demand for the redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, accusing him of failing to handle political violence impartially.
A statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the governor made the call while receiving the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the ICT Department at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Adegoke Fayoade, at the Government House in Osogbo.
Fayoade was accompanied by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone XI, Osogbo, Akinyele Fasuba, and the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.
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Speaking during the meeting, Adeleke stressed that political violence in Osun must be brought to an end and those responsible brought to justice.
The governor said, “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.
“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 has been no single arrest. 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.
“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.”
In his remarks, Fayoade said the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police and the Osun Commissioner of Police to ensure that violence and brigandage were not tolerated 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.
“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 expectations. The Commissioner of Police 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.