Osun 2026: Adeleke, IGP Disu Meet Over Political Violence, Demand Arrest of Thugs

By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Friday met with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-West, DIG Olufemi Disu, to discuss the recent wave of political violence in the state ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

At the meeting, both the governor and the senior police officer stressed the need for the immediate arrest and prosecution of political thugs and their sponsors to preserve peace in the state.

Governor Adeleke condemned the rising incidents of political violence and urged the police to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in violent acts, irrespective of political affiliation.

He also accused the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, of acting in the interest of a particular political party and called for impartial policing before, during and after the governorship election.

Earlier, DIG Disu said he was in Osun on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to address the security situation and ensure that the state remained peaceful throughout the election period.

He warned that the Nigeria Police Force would not tolerate political violence, killings or intimidation, stressing that elections should never be treated as warfare.

“This is an election, not a war. We have issued clear directives for the immediate arrest and prosecution of political thugs and anyone sponsoring violence,” he said.

The senior police officer disclosed that the police had received allegations and counter-allegations from various political actors, assuring the governor that the force would remain neutral and enforce the law without fear or favour.

He also appealed to parents to discourage their children from participating in political violence and warned politicians against recruiting youths as thugs.

Responding, Governor Adeleke reiterated his administration’s opposition to political violence, declaring that anyone found culpable, including members of his family or political party, should be arrested and prosecuted.

“If my son or any member of my political party is involved in killings or gun attacks in Osun, the police should arrest them. We do not support or harbour violence,” the governor said.

Adeleke commended President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police for their intervention, saying it had helped to prevent further escalation of violence in the state.

“We have insurgency and banditry confronting the country already. We should not waste our energy fighting ourselves over elections,” he said.

The governor urged the police to guarantee a peaceful environment that would allow voters to exercise their democratic rights without intimidation.

He also called for the reorganisation of the police anti-cultism and anti-violent crime units in the state, alleging that some officers had compromised their neutrality by collaborating with political actors.

According to him, the activities of political thugs, the proliferation of illegal firearms and unresolved cases of murder and gun attacks require urgent attention from the police.

Adeleke further urged the Inspector-General to ensure that the Osun State Commissioner of Police conducts himself professionally and impartially, warning that a compromised police command could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

He maintained that Osun people deserve free, fair and peaceful elections, adding that the state was seeking nothing beyond equitable and non-partisan policing.