DIG orders Osun police to end killings, intensify security patrols

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-West, Adegoke Fayoade, has directed the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to work with other security agencies to end the recurring cases of killings and violent crimes in the state.

 

Fayoade gave the directive on Friday during a security meeting at the Osun State Police Command Headquarters in Osogbo.

 

The meeting was attended by heads of security agencies, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Pastor John Adeleke, representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and journalists. The ruling Accord Party was not represented.

 

The DIG expressed concern over the rising cases of killings allegedly linked to cult groups and directed the Commissioner of Police to identify criminal hideouts and ensure those responsible are arrested and prosecuted.

 

He said the violence appeared to be a continuation of cult-related clashes that began in 2022 and warned that security agencies would not tolerate further bloodshed.

 

Fayoade ordered intensified collaboration among security agencies and directed the police to begin regular joint patrols across the state, particularly ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

 

He also instructed the police command to deploy armoured vehicles, restore strategic security checkpoints and increase surveillance across major roads and communities to intercept illegal arms and deter criminal activities.

 

According to him, security agencies will not spare anyone involved in violence, regardless of political affiliation.

 

“We don’t care whether they belong to any political party. As long as they are disturbing the peace of the people, they must be brought to book,” he said.

 

Fayoade described the cycle of retaliatory killings among rival cult groups as senseless and called for decisive action to halt the trend.

 

Osun State has witnessed a rise in cult-related and politically motivated violence in recent weeks. A 14-year-old boy, Ezekiel Olapade, was reportedly killed by suspected political hoodlums in Ilobu on Sunday, while an Accord Party member, Ajayi Rogba, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Esa-Oke on Tuesday.