Osun Poll: IGP Disu Vows Justice for Osun Killings, Orders CP Gotan to Go After Criminals

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Bamidele Disu, has directed the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to track down and arrest all those responsible for violent crimes across the state, declaring that perpetrators of political killings will not escape justice.

Speaking during a stakeholders engagement at the Osun State Police Command Headquarters in Osogbo on Friday, Disu said the Nigeria Police Force would not allow criminal elements to destabilise the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The IGP disclosed that security reports available to him indicated that more than 20 people had been killed in the state within the last few months, stressing that the forthcoming governorship election must not be allowed to degenerate into violence.

"We are preparing for an election, not a war," Disu said, warning that anyone involved in killings or other violent crimes would be pursued and prosecuted.

"Wherever the criminals are, the Commissioner of Police has my directive to go after them.

"If my count is correct and the records available to me are accurate, over 20 people have been killed within a few months. Nobody will commit a crime and go scot-free.

"You cannot kill another human being and expect to continue walking freely. Human life is sacred and nobody has the right to take another person's life."

The police chief also revealed that he had been informed that some suspects wanted by the police were allegedly taking refuge inside the Osun Government House, describing the allegation as disturbing.

According to him, he raised the issue during a meeting with Governor Ademola Adeleke, who assured him that no individual, regardless of political affiliation or relationship, should be shielded from arrest if found to have committed any offence.

"I mentioned it in the Governor's Office, and the governor responded that even if it was his own child involved in criminal activity, the police should arrest the person," Disu said.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and other senior officers were present during the discussion.

The IGP warned politicians and their supporters against engaging in violence before, during and after the election, insisting that the Nigeria Police Force would respond decisively to any threat to public peace.

Addressing another emerging security concern, Disu announced that Commissioners of Police across the country had also been directed to enforce existing laws on vehicle registration by arresting motorists using unregistered vehicles or vehicles with concealed or obscured number plates.

He said offenders would be prosecuted in accordance with the law as part of efforts to improve security and deny criminals the anonymity often exploited in carrying out criminal activities.

During the stakeholders meeting, representatives of political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party, exchanged accusations over recent incidents of political violence.

The IGP said all complaints presented by the parties had been noted and assured stakeholders that the police would investigate every allegation without bias.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensuring a peaceful, credible and violence-free governorship election in Osun State, urging residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information capable of preventing crime and apprehending offenders.