By Ayo Kehinde
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has linked politicians to a wave of violence that has claimed at least 30 lives in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Speaking on Tuesday during a programme on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu said investigations were still ongoing but evidence gathered from complaints received by the police pointed to possible political involvement in the killings.
“From the complaints received, we cannot rule out the involvement of some politicians in the killings,” Iniedu said.
He explained that the police had already made a number of arrests in connection with the incidents, adding that some suspects were publicly paraded while others had been arraigned before the courts.
The police spokesman, however, declined to disclose the identities of the suspects, the specific cases under investigation, or the politicians allegedly connected to the violence, saying such details could prejudice ongoing judicial proceedings and amount to trial by media.
According to him, the Force will make the information public after investigations have been concluded and the courts have determined the pending cases.
Responding to allegations that the police were taking sides in the political crisis in Osun State, Iniedu dismissed the claims, insisting that the Force would neither shield criminal suspects nor participate in any cover-up.
He acknowledged that security agencies often become targets of accusations during election periods but stressed that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had given clear operational directives that anyone found involved in election-related violence must be tracked, arrested, and prosecuted.
“It is logical that when an election is approaching, there will be accusing fingers pointed by political gladiators, particularly against the police. But I can assure Nigerians that the Inspector-General has directed that every suspected criminal be tracked, arrested, and prosecuted,” he said.
Iniedu recalled that the IGP recently visited Osogbo to assess the security situation following rising political tension and pre-election violence in the state.
During the visit, he said, the police chief met with Governor Ademola Adeleke, leaders of political parties, and other stakeholders, where allegations and counter-allegations over the violence featured prominently.
According to the Force spokesman, the Inspector-General made it clear that the police would not tolerate killings, political thuggery, or any attempt to undermine law and order before, during, and after the governorship election.
He added that the IGP also appealed to parents and guardians to discourage their children and wards from allowing themselves to be used as political thugs or instruments for settling political scores.
On allegations of partisanship levelled against the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, Iniedu said the Inspector-General had met with the commissioner, issued operational directives, and warned against any conduct capable of eroding public confidence in the Force.
He noted that the IGP’s intervention had already begun yielding positive results, with the deployment of specialised tactical units, drones, and helicopters to enhance surveillance and strengthen security across the state.
The police, he said, have also intensified intelligence gathering in collaboration with other security and intelligence agencies as part of efforts to ensure a peaceful, credible, and violence-free governorship election.
Speaking on the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force, Iniedu disclosed that the organisation currently has more than 400,000 active personnel nationwide, expressing confidence that the Force possesses the manpower and operational capability to secure the Osun governorship poll and other national assignments.
