The Osun State Police Command has vehemently disputed accusations made by the campaign group supporting Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s reelection that the Nigeria Police were planning to detain dozens of opposition leaders prior to the governorship poll on August 15.Kolapo Alimi, the Deputy Director-General of the Imole Campaign Council, claimed that 46 politicians and supporters, primarily from Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area, had been designated for arrest during a press conference in Osogbo on Sunday.
He claims that Ademola Adeyemo, the state’s Energy Commissioner, and a number of Accord Party leaders and members are at the top of the purported list.Alimi asserted that the campaign had obtained information suggesting the planned arrests were intended to undermine opposition leaders prior to the election.
“Even more alarming are the credible security reports reaching the leadership of the Imole Campaign Council regarding a coordinated ‘hit list’ drawn up by political opponents in collusion with compromised security operatives,” he said.
He added, “Several leaders of the Accord Party and prominent opposition figures have been penned down for systematic, unlawful arrests in the days leading up to the election.”
Alimi further alleged that 46 individuals had been targeted for arrest and possible transfer to Abuja.
“We have confirmed information that the following individuals (46 in number) have been marked for arbitrary arrest, harassment and forcible transfer to Abuja to keep them out of circulation during the election,” he alleged.
Concerns were also voiced by the campaign council regarding the detention of Taofeek Akinyemi, an Accord Party leader in Ikire, after he reported to the police that he had been attacked by alleged thugs.Alimi further claimed that a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was collaborating with political rivals to enable the detention of Accord Party members in Ikire.He urged Olatunji Disu, the Inspector-General of Police, to step in and order the Osun State Police Command and other security forces to cease harassing opposition figures and making arbitrary arrests.Additionally, the campaign council called for either Akinyemi’s prompt release or his arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction.
However, the Osun State Police Command dismissed the allegations, insisting that no individual or political party was being targeted.
Reacting to the claims, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the command’s ongoing operations were intelligence-driven and focused solely on flushing out criminal elements ahead of the election.
“We are raiding black spots and criminal hideouts every day to sanitise the environment for the forthcoming election, and this raid is not targeted at any individual, group of persons or political party,” Ojelabi said.
He stressed that the police had no list of politicians marked for arrest.
“We don’t have any list anywhere; the police do not formulate any list.
“We are only working with criminal records that we have and constantly raiding black spots and criminal hideouts.”
The police spokeswoman warned that anyone found in the company of suspected criminals may be implicated during investigations and advised locals to avoid late-night travels and illegal associations.In addition, Ojelabi mentioned that the state government had suggested creating a combined security task force for the election, expressing optimism that this would improve coordinated security efforts even more.Less than two weeks remain until Osun voters cast their ballots, and political tension is growing as parties step up their campaigns for the governorship election on August 15.
