THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has vowed that the Nigeria Police Force will go after everyone involved in the rising wave of violence in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
News Point Nigeria reports that Disu made the declaration on Friday during a visit to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Government House in Osogbo, where he addressed growing concerns over the increasing number of killings, violent clashes and political tension 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 disclosed that 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 aimed at preventing further bloodshed.
He stressed that the forthcoming governorship election must 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 further revealed that security agencies had identified groups allegedly linked to the violence, adding that the Commissioner of Police in the state had been directed to apprehend anyone responsible for causing unrest.
“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 disclosed that he had received complaints from various quarters and had been briefed by the Commissioner of Police over allegations that some suspects were hiding inside 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.
He, however, assured that the police would handle such allegations strictly in accordance with the law, while noting that there were also reports that political actors from different political parties were harbouring suspected criminals across 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.”
Disu also warned that he expected better performance from the Osun State Police Command, noting that both the Commissioner of Police and the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) overseeing the area had been directed 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, Governor Adeleke commended the IGP for visiting the state and urged him to prosecute anyone found culpable in the killings.
“If you see any of my people committing crime, arrest them. If it’s my son that is involved, arrest him,” the governor said.
The development comes amid growing public concern over the wave of killings that has engulfed Osun State in recent weeks.
Supporters of the Accord political party, the platform on which Governor Adeleke is seeking re-election, have been engaged in a war of words with supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is seeking to reclaim the state after four years in opposition.
Both political parties have accused each other of orchestrating the violence in a bid to gain political advantage ahead of the August 15 governorship election.