Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has declared that he would not shield anyone involved in criminal activities, insisting that security agencies should arrest and prosecute any offender, including members of his family.
The governor made the declaration on Friday while responding to comments by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Osogbo.
Adeleke’s remarks followed allegations by the IGP that the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had informed him that some suspects wanted by the police were allegedly taking refuge in the Government House.
Dismissing the allegation, the governor denied harbouring criminals and maintained that anyone found guilty of committing a crime should face the law without exception.
Adeleke stated that he had no interest in protecting offenders, stressing that even if his own son committed a crime, he should be arrested and allowed to face the consequences of his actions.
The governor, however, accused some police officers of acting unprofessionally, citing the alleged transfer of an officer who arrested a suspect linked to the killing of a 14-year-old boy in Ilobu.
According to him, the officer carried out the arrest in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police but was later transferred, a development he described as disturbing.
Adeleke commended the IGP for reaffirming his commitment to discipline within the Nigeria Police Force and urged officers to remain professional, impartial and committed to justice.
He assured the police of his continued cooperation, stressing that his administration was not at war with the force but expected officers to always act in accordance with the law and uphold justice.
He said “If you see any of my people that committed a crime, arrest them. If it is my son who committed a crime, arrest him, let him learn his lesson, and that is what I am saying in front of the IGP,”
“But for you to be playing all these games and everything like that, the person that they killed, a 14-year-old boy in Ilobu, because the police officer did a good job under the directive of the Inspector General of Police and arrested the suspect that killed the boy, you transferred the officer,
“I am glad the Inspector General of Police is here today, and he has said it openly that he will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, and he has given you a warning that you will not tolerate crime. That is why I am happy.
“If you change tomorrow, I will continue to cooperate with the police. Police is our friend. We are not fighting the police, but you have to do right,”