Violence: IGP Disu Visits Osun, Warns Political Thugs, Sponsors

…Vow To End Killings, Violence

…As APC, Accord trade accusations over alleged killing of members

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu, on Friday met with critical stakeholders and political party leaders over the rising spate of politically motivated killings and attacks in the state.

Ahead of the August 15 governorship election, Osun State had recorded pockets of violence ranging from killings, attempted assassinations, and attacks allegedly carried out by hoodlums suspected to be working for politicians.

The IGP who had earlier met with the Governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, leaders of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, following his visit to the State, sued for peace.

Speaking at the Police headquarters in Osogbo, the IGP sounded a note of warning to political thugs and their sponsors, saying “It is not going to be business as usual”.

Disu, who stated that, going by what he has in his records, over 20 people have been killed within several months, said it was because of the reports of killings and attacks in Osun that forced him to visit the state.

According to him, the CP in the state briefed him that some political thugs were being hoarded in Osun State Government House, and allegation the state governor denied. Disu said he also got a report that the Governor and other stakeholders were not happy with the conduct of the CP and sought his redeployment.

He assured that necessary actions would be taken to tackle the issue.

He said: “If my count is correct, if the record I have is correct, over 20 people have been killed within numbers of months. We are preparing for an election and not a war. I have a lot of reports against this party and that party.

“I have listened to the Commissioner of Police who even gave me a brief. He said some people he is looking for are kept in government house. That is strange to me.

“Luckily for me, I mentioned this in the Governor’s office. And the Governor replied that even if I found his child committing crime, I should arrest him. Luckily the Commissioner of Police was there, the AIG of the zone and other officers were there.

“Nobody will commit a crime and go scot-free. You can’t kill a person or anybody and think you can walk around freely. That is why I left Abuja to come here and talk with you today.

“This is an election we are not preparing for war. We are going to campaign, an election will hold. We will campaign, we will provide security for you, an election we hold in this state.

“Those who are planning to kill, if they are here or they are not here, let them know it is not going to be business as usual.

“Human life is sacred and nobody has the right to take that life. And those who have committed, those other ones we mentioned, anywhere they are, the Commissioner of Police. Like I mentioned, we will give you conducive environments to campaign when the time comes”.

The representative of the APC, Prince Adebayo Adebayo, popularly known as Banik informed the IGP that the state governor is harbouring suspected criminals who have been on the wanted list of the police in the government house.

Banik further explained that some wanted criminals were with the governor on the podium during a political rally recently held in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

According to him, the Government has been allegedly preventing the police to act professionally and that anyone of the officer who wants to diligently arrest perpetrators of crime and prosecute them, the government would attack them and see to it that such active personnel are redeployed from Osun through petitions.

He therefore, urged the IGP to ensure that the police are given free access to do their job and protect citizens.

Speaking, a lawmaker representing Egbedore/ Ejigbo Federal Constituency, Hon Bamidele Salam expressed concern over recent developments involving policing and security management in Osun State, arguing that public confidence in law enforcement should be protected.

Salam who said no arrest has been made since alleged killing of Accord members, alleged that unresolved killings involving Accord members also deserved investigation.

He listed several people who have lost their lives in separate incidents of political violence and urged the Inspector-General to ensure that all cases were thoroughly investigated.

He said the suspect allegedly linked to the killing of a 14y-year-old boy Olapade Ezekiel, in Ilobu was parade three days ago, but now freely walking on the streets, seeking the arrest of several individuals he alleged were involved in violent attacks in parts of the state.