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The Osun State Government has raised the alarm over what it described as a systematic invasion, attacks, and targeted raids on the homes of top government officials by the Osun State Police Command.
The latest incident, according to the government, involved a dawn raid on the residence of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement, alleged that a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations forcefully entered the SSG’s residence, whisking away family members to an unknown destination.
According to the government, this “Gestapo-style” operation followed similar raids and arrests targeting the residences of at least six commissioners and other senior government functionaries.
“At the time of the invasion on the SSG’s home, the official was attending a stakeholders’ forum organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while his ward officials were holding a meeting within the compound,” Alimi said.
The government noted that these incidents build upon a pattern of escalating aggression, including a raid on the Commissioner for Energy’s home in Ikire, where properties were allegedly ransacked and destroyed.
He alleged that five other commissioners had similarly reported their homes being shadowed or breached, with no illegal items found.
According to Alimi, reports indicate that several members of the Accord Party are currently being detained in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) cells at the State Police Command without bail.
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In a strongly worded statement, Alimi condemned the actions, saying, “These raids on the SSG and our commissioners are an aggravated assault on the government and people of Osun State.
“This campaign of repression constitutes a grave danger to democracy and reflects reprehensible, unprofessional conduct by the police in support of the state APC… The police have become a major threat to the conduct of a free and fair election in Osun State.”
The state government appealed to traditional rulers, the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and halt the targeted violence before it leads to a total breakdown of law and order.
While noting that Governor Ademola Adeleke has continuously urged citizens to remain calm, the government warned that the situation is reaching a boiling point.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the operation at the SSG’s residence and the subsequent arrests.
“It is true that based on intelligence, the house of the SSG was raided by police operatives, and six persons were arrested along with exhibits. Four of them have been screened and discovered not to be involved; they will be released. That is all I can say for now,” Ojelabi stated.
However, a reliable police source confided that efforts were underway to secure the release of the remaining detained individuals.
Sources further indicated that the suspects were allegedly apprehended alongside items related to electoral materials.
