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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has directed the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Gotan, to go after criminals wherever they may be.
Speaking at the police headquarters in Osogbo on Friday, the IGP said he had been briefed about alleged violence in Osun State and warned that criminals would not be allowed to “go scot-free”, especially with the August 15 governorship election approaching in the state.
Disu said that, based on available records, more than 20 people had been killed within a few months. He emphasised that police action would continue because the country was preparing for an election, not a war.
The IGP said he was informed that some suspects being sought by CP Gotan might be “hibernating” in the Government House, which he described as “strange”. He said he raised the matter at the Governor’s Office and that the governor responded that even if his own child was involved in criminal activity, the police should arrest the person.
Disu warned those planning killings, whether in Osun State or elsewhere, that it would not be “business as usual”, stressing that human life is sacred and that no one has the right to take another person’s life.
“Wherever the criminals are, the Commissioner of Police have my directives to go after them.
“If my count is correct, if the record I have is correct, over 20 people have been killed within numbers of months. We are preparing for an election and not a war. I have a lot of reports against this party and that party.
“I have listened to the Commissioner of Police who even gave me a brief. I learnt that some people he is looking for are kept in government house. That is strange to me.
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“Luckily for me, I mentioned this in the Governor’s office. And the Governor replied that even if I found his child committing crime, I should arrest him. Luckily the Commissioner of Police was there, the AIG of the zone and other officers were there.
“Nobody will commit a crime and go scot-free. You can’t kill a person or anybody and think you can walk around freely. That is why I left Abuja to come here and talk with you today.
“Those who are planning to kill, if they are here or they are there, let them know it is not going to be business as usual. Human life is sacred and nobody has the right to take that life. And those who have committed, those other ones we mentioned, anywhere they are, the Commissioner of Police have my directives to go after them,” Disu said.
During a meeting with the governor at the Government House, the IGP said he was aware of the crimes and assured residents that the police would pursue those responsible. He noted that some people were unhappy with CP Gotan, adding that he was still receiving complaints regarding the matter.
The IGP also said Commissioners of Police across the country had been directed to arrest anyone using unregistered number plates or concealing vehicle registration plates and prosecute them accordingly.
“The CP has briefed me that some suspects he his looking for are hibernating in the government house, I looked at that if it’s true why should suspect be in the government house?
“But I have told him as the police officer-in-charge, he has a way of going about all these,” the IGP said.
Representatives of political parties, particularly the APC and Accord Party, traded accusations and counter-accusations during the meeting. The IGP said their concerns had been noted and promised that necessary steps would be taken to address them.
