The Osun State Government has accused the Nigeria Police of conducting coordinated raids on the residences of senior government officials, labeling the operations as an attempt to intimidate members of the administration ahead of the upcoming governorship election.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, alleged that police officers raided the home of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, arresting several individuals who were attending a political meeting.
According to the government, the meeting was underway at the SSG’s residence while Igbalaye was attending an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ forum in Osogbo.
The statement further claimed that the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, and that some family members of Igbalaye were also taken during the raid.
The government alleged that similar raids occurred at the homes of approximately six commissioners and other senior officials. Specifically, it stated that security operatives searched the residence of the Commissioner for Energy, Festus Adeyemo, in Ikire on Tuesday, causing damage to property during the process.
The administration reported that several commissioners had observed surveillance around their homes, and some residences were reportedly searched without any evidence of unlawful activity being found.
Moreover, the government claimed that numerous members of the Accord Party are being detained at the Criminal Investigation Department of the Osun State Police Command without bail following recent security operations.
Describing the raids as a threat to democratic governance, the government accused the Osun State Police Command of partisan behavior, alleging that it is being used to further the interests of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The timing of these operations, coinciding with election-related activities involving INEC, raised concerns that they could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The state government called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the National Security Adviser, President Bola Tinubu, and traditional rulers to intervene and halt what it described as targeted actions against government officials and Accord Party members.
While urging residents to remain calm, the government reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace in light of what it termed increasing political tension in the state.
These allegations followed an earlier statement from the Osun State Police Command, which announced the arrest of several suspects, including SSG Teslim Igbalaye, during an operation linked to an investigation into alleged vote-buying in Osogbo. The police statement was issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan.
