Osun 2026: 13 LGAs High-Risk As CSOs Raise Alarm Over 34 Deaths

-Police Deploy Four Officers To Each Polling Unit

-IGP Assures CSOs

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has assured stakeholders that the Nigeria Police Force will deploy a minimum of four police officers to each of the 3,673 polling units across Osun State for the August 15 governorship election.

Disu gave the assurance during a meeting with civil society organisations working on elections at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on August 7, where concerns were raised over the rising cases of political violence and the neutrality of security agencies ahead of the poll.

The meeting, convened at the request of the civil society groups, provided an opportunity for them to present their pre-election assessments and security threat analyses while raising concerns over escalating violence and public perceptions about the neutrality of security agencies.

The CSOs described the Osun governorship election as a critical test of Nigeria’s electoral security and public confidence, noting that it would be the last major election before the 2027 general elections.

According to them, a peaceful and credibly secured election would strengthen public confidence ahead of 2027, while insecurity or perceived bias by security agencies could further deepen public distrust.

The organisations disclosed that 13 of the 30 Local Government Areas in Osun had been classified as high-risk areas, citing reported killings, violent attacks and heightened political tensions.

They further stated that their pre-election monitoring recorded 34 fatalities across 44 incidents between June 2025 and June 2026, adding that the violence had extended beyond isolated criminal incidents to attacks on party leaders and offices, coordinated shootings, political abductions and violence around local government secretariats.

The CSOs also raised concerns about alleged aggressive use of force and perceived partiality by security personnel, saying public calls for the redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police were indicative of declining public trust.

Responding to the concerns, the IGP said Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale Etaifo had been deployed to take charge of election security operations in Osun, while an Assistant Inspector-General of Police would provide senior operational oversight.

He added that CP Abayomi Shogunle, PhD, would coordinate operations from the central monitoring centre in Abuja rather than deploy to the field.

Disu said early deployment of police personnel had commenced, with officers already positioned in Osun State, adding that the Force would undertake a visible deterrence operation, including a show of force, to discourage violence and other disruptive activities.

He, however, said the show of force would be balanced with public engagement to avoid unnecessary intimidation and sustain confidence among residents.

The IGP also disclosed that roadblocks and other movement-control measures would be established as part of the election security plan to restrict unauthorised movement.

He warned that political actors would not be allowed to move with security aides or armed escorts in contravention of election-day restrictions.

Disu further assured the civil society organisations that the police would adopt a firm and impartial approach to electoral offences, including vote buying, voter intimidation, ballot-box snatching and thuggery, irrespective of the political affiliation or status of those involved.

The IGP also acknowledged concerns over the proliferation of cult groups in the state, stating that investigations had indicated that some of the groups had been recruited by political actors.

He said arrests had already been made and vowed that enforcement action against cult and politically linked threat networks would continue.

The police boss cautioned politicians against recruiting or deploying thugs, warning that the Force was prepared to pursue both perpetrators and sponsors of organised violence in accordance with the law.

On the information environment, Disu acknowledged the threat posed by disinformation and synthetic media ahead of the election.

He said national coordination structures of the Force had been trained and prepared to identify and counter harmful information operations and take appropriate enforcement action where such activities violated the law.

The IGP also assured persons with disabilities of an inclusive security arrangement, saying the Force management team would pay particular attention to their security and access needs.

He expressed willingness to engage disability organisations on practical measures to promote more inclusive policing during the election.

Disu further announced that more female police officers would be deployed for the election, citing the positive performance of female personnel in previous operations.

He also disclosed that election-duty allowances had been paid to deployed officers as part of measures to enhance their welfare and operational readiness.

The IGP committed the police to maintaining direct communication with accredited election observers and journalists, promising a designated liaison mechanism for structured briefings and information exchange before, during and after the election.

The mechanism, he said, would also facilitate the timely escalation of verified security incidents and clarification of operational issues.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), CLEEN Foundation, Kukah Centre, Kimpact Development Initiative, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Partners West Africa, TAF Africa and Yiaga Africa.