Osun Government Accuses Police of Political Intimidation After Raids on Top Officials Ahead of Governorship Election

Tension is rising in Osun State after the state government accused the Nigeria Police Force of launching coordinated raids on the homes of senior government officials, describing the operations as an attempt to intimidate the administration ahead of the governorship election.

The allegation was made on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, who claimed that the latest operation targeted the residence of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye. He said police officers arrested several people who were attending a political meeting at the property while the SSG was away at an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ forum in Osogbo.

Alimi alleged that the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and claimed that members of Igbalaye’s family were also taken away during the raid.

“The SSG’s residence was invaded by a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner for Operations, with family members of the SSG taken to unknown destinations,” the commissioner stated.

The Osun Government further alleged that the operation was not an isolated incident, claiming that security operatives had also searched the residences of about six commissioners and other senior government officials. It also accused officers of raiding the home of the Commissioner for Energy, Festus Adeyemo, in Ikire on Tuesday, alleging that the property was searched and damaged during the exercise.

The administration also claimed that several commissioners had noticed increased surveillance around their homes, while some residences were allegedly entered despite no evidence of unlawful activity. It further alleged that members of the Accord Party were being held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Osun State Police Command without being granted bail following recent security operations.

Describing the development as a direct threat to democracy, the state government accused the Osun State Police Command of acting in a partisan manner. It claimed the timing of the raids, which coincided with the visit of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for election-related engagements, could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The government appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Service, the National Security Adviser, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and traditional rulers to intervene, urging them to halt what it described as targeted actions against government officials and members of the Accord Party.

“Our governor has consistently urged residents to remain calm and not 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 statement added.

The accusations come shortly after the Osun State Police Command confirmed the arrest of several suspects, including SSG Teslim Igbalaye, during an operation linked to an investigation into alleged vote-buying in Osogbo. The police disclosed the arrests in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.