Osun Alleges Police Siege on Top Officials, Warns of Threat to Democracy

The Osun State Government on Wednesday alleged that the Nigeria Police had intensified what it described as a coordinated crackdown on top government officials, claiming that the residences of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, and several commissioners were invaded in a series of operations across the state.

 

Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Osogbo, alleged that the police actions amounted to “an aggravated assault on the government and people of Osun State,” warning that the development posed a serious threat to democracy and the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election.

 

According to the statement, the latest operation involved the residence of the Secretary to the State Government, which was allegedly stormed by a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations. The government claimed that family members found in the house were taken to an undisclosed location during the operation.

 

The government further stated that at the time of the alleged raid, the SSG was attending a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, while ward officials were holding a meeting within the premises of his residence.

 

It also alleged that the residence of the Commissioner for Energy in Ikire was raided on Tuesday, with properties reportedly vandalised, adding that about six commissioners and other senior government officials had either had their homes searched or placed under surveillance by security operatives.

 

The statement further claimed that several members of the Accord Party had been arrested and were being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, without being granted bail.

 

Alimi accused the Osun State Police Command of acting in a partisan manner and alleged that the operations were politically motivated. He said the actions of the police undermined constitutional rights and could threaten the credibility of the August 15 governorship election in the state.

 

The commissioner appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, the National Security Adviser, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other relevant authorities to intervene, warning that continued raids and arrests could heighten political tension and endanger public peace.

 

He added that Governor Ademola Adeleke had consistently urged residents to remain peaceful and avoid taking the law into their own hands despite the prevailing security situation.

 

As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Police Command had not issued an official response to the allegations contained in the government’s statement.