The Imole Campaign Council has accused the Osun State Police Command of planning to arrest dozens of individuals linked to the re-election bid of Governor Ademola Adeleke ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Speaking at a press briefing in Osogbo on Sunday, the council’s Deputy Director-General, Kolapo Alimi, alleged that security operatives had compiled a list of 46 people for arrest, with many of those named reportedly from Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area.
According to Alimi, the Commissioner for Energy, Ademola Adeyemo, is the foremost person on the alleged list.
He also claimed that Taofeek Akinyemi, an Accord Party chieftain in Ikire who was reportedly attacked by gunmen, was arrested and detained after reporting the shooting incident to the police.
Alimi, who also serves as the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, further alleged that an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was collaborating with opposition figures to orchestrate the arrest of Accord Party members in Ikire in an attempt to undermine the party’s campaign activities.
“Even more alarming are the credible security reports reaching the leadership of the Imole Campaign Council regarding a coordinated ‘hit list’ drawn up by political opponents in collusion with compromised security operatives.
“Several leaders of the Accord Party and prominent opposition figures have been ‘penned down’ for systematic, unlawful arrests in the days leading up to the election.
Specifically, we have confirmed information that the following individuals (46 in number) have been marked for arbitrary arrest, harassment, and forcible transfer to Abuja to keep them out of circulation during the election,” Alimi said.
Among those he alleged were targeted for arrest are Ademola Adeyemo, Idris Idowu Jooda, Pastor Paul Akinola, Mukaila Yusuf, Dr Kazeem Atoba, Yesiru Olaniyi, Alhaji Olokeola, Wale Olunloye, Taye Adeyemo, Moshood Jolaiya, Lere Ogungbade, Kola Akinpelu, Tiri Adepoju and Pastor Femi Oladiran, among others.
The campaign council also demanded either the immediate release of Akinyemi or his arraignment before a court. It further appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to instruct the Osun State Police Command, the State Criminal Investigation Department and special squads deployed from Abuja to halt what it described as the arbitrary arrest and harassment of opposition figures, including those allegedly earmarked for transfer to the Federal Capital Territory.
In addition, Alimi urged the Force Headquarters to ensure that only neutral, professional and impartial security personnel are deployed to Osun for election duties.
Reacting to the allegations, the Osun State Police Command denied the existence of any arrest list, insisting that its ongoing operations are solely aimed at combating crime and ensuring public safety ahead of the election.
Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, maintained that security operatives would continue routine operations against criminal elements across the state.
“We are raiding black spots and criminal hideouts every day to sanitise the environment for the forthcoming election, and this raid is not targeted at any individual, group of persons or political party.
“It is targeted at criminal hideouts. We don’t have any list anywhere; the police do not formulate any list.
“We are only working with criminal records that we have and constantly raiding black spots and criminal hideouts. We have advised parents to warn their children to avoid late-night movements and to avoid associating with those who have criminal records. There is no way they will not implicate them.
“The government has also promised to set up a joint task force, and that would have helped a lot, so it won’t be the police alone. But since then, we have not seen anything from them. Maybe it will come up tomorrow, so it won’t appear that the police are acting alone or have some people in mind.”