Adeleke Meets New Osun CP, Demands Police Reforms, Release Of Political Detainees

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for urgent reforms in the state police command, demanding measures to restore public confidence and strengthen peace and stability across the state.

Adeleke made the demands on Monday when the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim D. Zungura, led top officials of the command on a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Osogbo.

Zungura, who assumed office recently, pledged to work with the state government and other stakeholders to restore public confidence in the police and ensure impartial enforcement of law and order.

“I promise to work with the state government for peace and stability of the state. I will be fair to all and I will prove my commitment in the next few weeks. Osun is a peaceful state and we will work to address all outstanding issues,” the CP declared.

Responding, Adeleke said Osun had passed through turbulent times, stressing that post-election peace had yet to be fully restored in the state.

The governor specifically raised concerns over a recent police operation in Ikire in which two persons were reportedly killed, alleging that the Divisional Police Officer in the area had been implicated in the incident.

“Based on all details of the attacks, I request immediate commencement of disciplinary action against the DPO. He has become a threat to the people he was posted to protect,” Adeleke said.

The governor said his administration was already pursuing post-election peace and reconciliation initiatives, adding that he had extended an “olive branch” to political stakeholders across the state.

According to him, the police-civilian relationship in Osun was currently at its lowest ebb, with public trust in the police “very disturbing.”

Adeleke listed five key requests for the new police leadership, including deliberate efforts to rebuild public trust and eliminate conduct capable of portraying the police as partisan or anti-people.

He also called for a stronger working relationship between the state government and police command, saying his administration sought no favour from the police other than fair and impartial policing.

The governor further demanded the reorganisation of the internal operations of the command, alleging that some police operational units had been compromised and were perceived by residents as being sympathetic to members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also called for the full participation of the police commissioner in State Security Council meetings, noting that the last time the predecessor of the new CP attended such a meeting was in 2024.

Adeleke equally appealed for the release of several members of the Accord Party who, according to him, were being held as political detainees, while urging the police to halt further arrests of members of the party.

“Our government is ready to support police operations without any string attached. What we seek is fair policing,” the governor said.

The governor expressed optimism that the new police leadership would work with his administration to restore peace, strengthen security and rebuild public confidence in the police across Osun State.