Osun Governor Adeleke Demands CP's Removal Over Alleged Police Partisanship in Killings

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has strongly advocated for an immediate halt to the escalating violent crimes within the state, insisting on the arrest and prosecution of individuals suspected of being political thugs. This stance was articulated by the governor during a meeting with Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, who heads the ICT Department at Force Headquarters, Abuja. DIG Fayoade, accompanied by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Akinyele Fasuba of Zone XI Headquarters, Osogbo, and Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, visited Governor Adeleke at the Government House in Osogbo on Friday, as confirmed by a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

Governor Adeleke emphasized that not only must the violence cease, but those responsible must also be identified and brought to justice. He directly addressed the DIG, stating, “You are in this state at a time negligence and partisanship of some of your officers have worsened political violence in the state.” He further alleged, “You visit us at a time some policemen are openly known to be collaborating with political thugs to unleash violence on our people.” The governor highlighted that his meeting with the DIG occurred amidst a period where three political murders — Eluyera in Ikire, Ezekiel in Ilobu, and Aderogba in Esa Oke — remain unresolved within recent weeks, with no arrests made.

Adeleke recounted incidents where, according to him, “In Osun today, political thugs drove round the town, shooting sporadically, attacking innocent residents. They destroyed Accord billboards. Yet, the police command looks the other way. Even when the suspects are well known, there have been no single arrests.” He expressed frustration, noting, “Only in Osun state do we have police operatives eager to arrest Accord members on the most minor of grounds but has yet to arrest a single suspect in a series of murders and gun attacks.”

Asserting that Commissioner of Police Gotan has displayed a clear lack of impartiality and capability to act without political bias, Governor Adeleke unequivocally called for Gotan’s redeployment. He urged the DIG to convey this position to the police hierarchy, emphasizing the desire of Osun residents for fair elections and a peaceful environment to cast their votes. “We need the reshuffling of the state police command to secure impartial policing,” Adeleke stressed, adding, “I have listened to the message from the IGP. We wait to see the outcome of these interventions. We count on you to stop the spate of killings. Your state police commissioner has failed us.”

Earlier in the meeting, DIG Fayoade assured the governor that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had issued directives to both the AIG and the Osun CP to actively prevent and end all acts of brigandage in the state. Fayoade stated, “I have also directed the AIG and the Commissioner of Police on the order of the IG, that any act of murder or brigandage or any unlawful act perpetrated in the state must be fully investigated. Anybody found culpable should be arrested and prosecuted.” He pledged that the upcoming elections in Osun State would be conducted peacefully, citing the successful conduct of recent elections in Anambra and Ekiti states as benchmarks. “Your Excellency, I am assuring you that the police will live up to the expectation. The police commissioner and his men will perform their duties in line with the constitution and in line with the rule of law. We are not going to allow anybody to violate the law of the land and cause any havoc or any uneasiness in the state,” Fayoade affirmed.