“Arrest Anyone Involved, Even My Son” — Adeleke Tells IGP As Disu Alleges Police Suspects May Be Hiding In Osun Government House

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has warned that the police will go after anyone involved in killings, clashes and political violence in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Disu gave the warning on Friday during a visit to Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Government House in Osogbo, where he also disclosed that the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had briefed him that some suspects wanted by the police were allegedly taking refuge in the Government House.

The IGP said he was in the state because of the growing security concerns and the rising number of deaths linked to political violence in recent months.

“I’m here because of the situation Osun State is turning into,” Disu said.

“I’ve taken my time to look at what is happening around here, and for a number of months now, we have been able to count the number of deaths and the number of crises and fighting in Osun.

“We are approaching a very important election, and this will not be entertained by us.

“We’ll go after each and every one who has committed any crime in this state.”

Disu said he had earlier deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone to engage the state government and other stakeholders on measures to prevent further bloodshed.

He warned that the governorship election must not be treated as a war.

“The police will not condone unnecessary killings. It is not done anywhere in the world. I will not stand by it,” he said.

“This is an election; it is not a war. It’s an election, not a war.”

The IGP said security agencies had identified groups allegedly linked to the violence and that the Commissioner of Police had been directed to arrest anyone causing trouble in the state.

“Various groups of people who have been involved in this have been mapped out. The Commissioner of Police has been given the marching order to go after anybody causing trouble in the state,” he said.

“You cannot kill anybody and continue to walk around freely in the town.”

Disu also acknowledged complaints that Governor Adeleke and some others were dissatisfied with the conduct of the Osun State Commissioner of Police.

“If I tell you, sir, that I have not had complaints, I have lied, and I will explain everything to you one by one, sir.

“I have heard that you are not happy, and some people are not happy with the Commissioner of Police for this reason and that reason,” he said.

The IGP, however, said the commissioner had also briefed him on allegations that some criminal suspects were allegedly being harboured at the Government House.

“He, too, has briefed me. He briefed me that some suspects he is looking for are hibernating in the Government House. I looked at that. If that is true, why should suspects be in the Government House?” Disu said.

He added that he had advised the commissioner on how to handle the allegation lawfully.

“I have told him how to go about it. I have heard that this party and that party are hibernating suspects, criminals,” he said.

Disu did not identify the alleged suspects or provide details of the allegations.

The IGP also appealed to parents to warn their children against being recruited as political thugs, saying the police would deploy more personnel to the state before the election.

“I know that thugs are employed for elections. Osun State should be an exception because we are going to bring in more men,” he said.

“If parents are listening to me, let them warn their children. They shouldn’t allow politicians to use them for elections because it is only those who are alive that can reap the dividends of the election.”