Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force have been alleged to have raided the homes of the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, six serving commissioners, other top government officials, ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi.
The state government has sought the attention of traditional rulers, the Nigeria Police Service, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to what it described as the escalation of targeted violence against top government officials and Accord Party members in the state.
According to Alimi, Igbalaye’s residence was busted by a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner for Operations, with family members of the SSG taken to unknown destinations.
This reportedly followed a similar raid and arrest at the residences of about six commissioners and other top government officials.
“One of the affected commissioners was in the residence of the Commissioner for Energy, Festus Adeyemo, whose house at Ikire was allegedly ransacked with several properties destroyed by the police yesterday.”
Meanwhile, as at the time the SSG house was invaded, Alimi said his ward officials were holding meetings within the compound while the Igbalaye himself was attending the stakeholders’ forum organised by the National Electoral Commission.
Following several raids and arrests, Alimi disclosed that reports at the disposal of the government indicated that several Accord Party members are languishing in CID cells at the State Command without being granted bail.
The commissioner labeled the raid as an aggravated assault on the government and the people of Osun state.
He accused the police of partisanship, alleging their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) government
“These raids on the SSG and our commissioners are an aggravated assault on the government and people of Osun state. This campaign of repression constitutes a grave danger to democracy.
“It is reprehensible, unprofessional conduct by the police in support of the state APC.
“By openly launching attacks on Osun government officials, the state police command has again confirmed its partiality, its partisanship and its becoming a direct tool in the hands of Osun APC.
“This is a law enforcement agency becoming lawless and acting against the spirit and letters of the Constitution.“ Alimi said.
The commissioner expressed concern over the police activities across the state ahead of the August 15 Governorship Election.
He labeled their actions as a threat to the conduct of free and fair elections as he called on the intervention of President Bola Tinubu; the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and traditional rulers in the state.
“These grave violations of the constitution and basic rights of the government and people of Osun state come as the national chairman of INEC is meeting stakeholders.
“The police have become a major threat to the conduct of free and fair elections in Osun state.
“We again call the attention of our traditional rulers, the Nigeria Police Service, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to this escalation of targeted violence against top government officials and Accord members in Osun state.
“This must be stopped before it escalates into a general breakdown of law and orderPolitics
“Our governor has consistently tasked the populace to calm down and not to take the law into their own hands.
“The situation is reaching a boiling point. We must save our democracy from these lawless elements within the Nigerian police”, the commissioner wrote.
The Osun Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, hasn’t yet responded or confirmed the allegations of a raid. He is said to be currently at a stakeholders’ meeting hosted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
