The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said that it is investigating 30 cases of suspected politically motivated killings linked to the build-up to the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
The Force Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this, yesterday, during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief.
He said several suspects had already been arrested, with some publicly presented by the police before being arraigned in court.
MEANWHILE, Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun State, yesterday, lauded the intervention of the IGP for his recent engagement of security stakeholders over the escalating violence in the state.
They, however, threatened to resume protests against the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, over alleged bias and in the confession of suspects recently arrested for allegedly attempting to kill the Director-General of All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council, Wole Oke.
Iniedu, who declined to provide further details on the ongoing investigations, explaining that commenting on the identities of suspects or the circumstances surrounding the cases could interfere with judicial proceedings, assured Nigerians that comprehensive information would be released after investigations had been concluded and the matters before the courts resolved.
The police spokesperson, however, dismissed claims of the police taking sides in the political crisis, insisting that the Force would neither conceal evidence nor protect anyone found to have committed crimes.
He recalled the recent visit by the Inspector-General of Police to Osogbo, where he met Governor Ademola Adeleke and other political stakeholders following growing concerns over violence ahead of the election.
According to him, the meeting provided an opportunity for all parties to air their grievances while the police chief emphasised that acts of violence would not be tolerated.
The PPRO, while responding to the accusations that the CP was partisan and shielding suspects, said the IGP had personally addressed the issue with the commissioner.
He said the police chief issued clear directives and made it known that persistent allegations and counter-allegations would not be tolerated.
The groups stated this during a media briefing in Osogbo, Osun State capital.
Spokesperson for the CSOs, Olowu Emmanuel Aiyedun of the Social Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy (SECRA), said a recent viral video of the leader of the gang, Olamilekan Oriyomi, claiming to be contracted to provide security for Oke, indicated an attempt to project a false narrative of the incident by the police.
He said that despite the expiration of their 72-hour demand for the redeployment of Gotan during a demonstration on June 23, they would resume another protest if nothing was done to ensure professional and unbiased policing in the state.
According to him, we appreciate IGP’s clear directive ordering the immediate end of political violence, killings, and acts of thuggery and his instruction that all perpetrators be arrested irrespective of political affiliation, and his personal visit to the state for an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation.
(Guardian)