Political tension intensified in Osun State on Wednesday after police arrested Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaiye, and five other suspects ahead of the governorship election.
The arrests sparked strong reactions from the Osun State Government and Governor Ademola Adeleke‘s campaign. Both accused the police of targeting opposition figures. The police, however, insisted that officers acted on credible intelligence.
Police defend operation
The Osun State Police Command said officers raided Igbalaiye’s residence in Osogbo after receiving intelligence about suspected criminal activity.
Police said officers recovered N4.81 million during the operation. They also recovered two Permanent Voter Cards, a voter register, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine and a printer. The command identified Oladele Abiodun as one of the suspects. It said he was already on its watchlist over alleged criminal offences.
Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi said investigators were examining the recovered items. He said the team wanted to determine whether they were linked to electoral offences, including alleged vote buying and criminal conspiracy.
“Officers recovered N4,810,500 and other exhibits during the operation,”
The command said investigators would trace the source of the money. They would also identify everyone connected with the exhibits and determine whether any criminal offences had occurred. Police assured residents that anyone found culpable would face prosecution after the investigation.
Osun government alleges political intimidation
The Osun State Government rejected the police account and accused the command of carrying out unlawful raids on the homes of senior government officials without search warrants.
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Kolapo Alimi alleged that officers stormed the SSG’s residence while Igbalaiye attended an Independent National Electoral Commission stakeholders’ meeting. He also claimed officers arrested members of the SSG’s family during the operation.
Alimi further alleged that police recently raided the residence of the Commissioner for Energy in Ikire. He said officers also monitored the homes of several other commissioners despite finding no illegal activity.
“The Osun State Government has raised alarm over systematic raids on the homes of top government officials without a proper search warrant,” Alimi said.
The commissioner described the operations as an attack on democracy. He also accused the police of acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress.
“This campaign of repression constitutes grave danger to democracy,” he added.
Adeleke campaign seeks release of supporters
The Adeleke campaign demanded the immediate release of supporters allegedly arrested across the state.
Campaign spokesperson Pelumi Olajengbesi made the demand after visiting the Force Intelligence Response Team headquarters in Abuja. He alleged that security agencies arrested more than 86 party members without legal justification.
“Over 86 members of our party have been arrested for no reason,” Olajengbesi alleged.
He also claimed authorities moved some detainees to correctional centres in Keffi and Kuje without filing charges. The campaign also accused the Osun Commissioner of Police of compromising the election. It urged the Inspector-General of Police to intervene.
Police reject campaign’s claims
The police dismissed the campaign’s allegations and insisted that officers arrested only six suspects during the operation.
Ojelabi said all the suspects were adults. He maintained that the command based the operation on credible intelligence rather than political considerations.
“Just six persons were arrested. All adults,” the police spokesperson said.
He also denied claims that officers invaded the homes of government officials. According to him, police acted on intelligence before arresting the suspects at the SSG’s residence.
“The police did not invade the house of commissioners. They acted on information and arrested the suspects in the house of the SSG,” Ojelabi said.
Responding to calls for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Ojelabi said only the Inspector-General of Police has the authority to make that decision.
