Police Lock Down Osun State Ahead Of Governorship Polls

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

30 Commissioners of Police, over 15,000 police personnel, and a Deputy Inspector General, have been deployed to Osun state ahead of Saturday’s , August 15, off-circle gubernatorial polls.

This is as the Police said there will be a total lock down of the State, with restrictions on vehicular movement strictly enforced.

The election which is a straightforward battle between incumbent ,Accord Party’s Governor Ademola Adeleke and All Progressive Congress APC’s Bola Oyebamiji has been dogged by tension, intense acrimony and spates of violent attacks and killings, with both sides trading blame.

At a media briefing on Friday in Osogbo, Aniete Iniedu, the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, said in addition to the personnel on ground, helicopters and drones would equally be deployed for effective aerial and area surveillance before, during, and after the election.

According to him, the deployment exercise which began three weeks ago has seen more than 15,000 personnel stationed in the State to provide adequate security throughout the period of the polls.

He emphasized that the Police personnel and equipment including  helicopters and drones will be deployed across the state for election duties ,and surveillance support.

Similarly, the Force spokesperson informed that two mobile police units each with about 60 officers have been stationed at the State Headquarters of the INEC in Osogbo to provide adequate security.

Additionally, a unit ofmobile police units will be deployed to each of the state’s 30 local councils , before , during and after the election.

A Commissioner of Police, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, and an Assistant Commissioner of Police ,as well as a PMF Commander will be deployed to each of the 30 local councils of the state to coordinate security.

“We have deployed armed mobile policemen to every Local Government Area in the State. So, we have 30 units across Local Government Areas. A unit of 60 policemen.

“We also have two units of armed policemen attached to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC headquarters in Osogbo.

“The men who stay at the Local Government Areas are being coordinated by a Commissioner of Police. There is a Commissioner of Police in each Local Government.

“We also have a Deputy Commissioner of Police in each Local Government Area as well as a Mobile Police Commander, and PMF Commander with the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police in each Local Government.

“As of Thursday, our helicopters and drones units had arrived in Osogbo ,and they will be conducting area surveillance from now, during, and after the elections.

” We will be locking down the State . We will not be allowing any vehicular move apart from those on essential duty , security duties ,and those to exercise their franchise”, the Police stated .

While calling on parents and guardians to cautioned their children and wards against being used as canon folder, the police warned that it will deal decisively with individuals and groups engaged in acts capable of undermining the peace and stability of the state,

The Police particularly frowned at any acts of voter intimidation, stalking, vote-buying, ballot-box snatching, and other criminal activities, warning that perpetrators will face the full weight of the law.