Osun Poll: 15,000 Police Personnel to Provide Security, Electoral Offenders Face Abuja Prosecution

No fewer than 15,000 police personnel will be deployed across Osun State to provide security for the August 15 governorship election, while individuals arrested for electoral offences will be transferred to Abuja for investigation and prosecution, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Erale Etaifo, has said.

CP Etaifo made this known on Wednesday while addressing police officers deployed for election duties at the Police Officers’ Mess in Osogbo.
He explained that his early deployment by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) was necessitated by the rising political tension and recent incidents of violence and killings recorded in parts of the state.

The election security chief warned officers to remain professional and impartial throughout the exercise, stressing that any individual found compromising the integrity of the election would face the full weight of the law.

According to him, the warning applies to police personnel, political actors and members of political parties.
He further revealed that all suspects arrested for electoral offences during the election would be transferred to Abuja for investigation and prosecution.

“Arrested violators of electoral laws will be moved straight to Abuja. No one arrested here in Osun during or after the election will be detained in the state. This is a federal government election, and anybody arrested will be taken to Abuja. That is the directive,” Etaifo said.

The Commissioner added that the security deployment would comprise conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel, specialists, the dog section, medical teams and other tactical units.

“As I speak, we are expecting nothing less than 15,000 officers for this election. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) overseeing the operation will also be in the state,” he said.

Etaifo also confirmed that he would serve as the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, noting that the IGP ordered his early arrival in Osun due to the heightened security concerns ahead of the poll.

He assured residents that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to providing adequate security and ensuring that voters exercise their franchise in a peaceful and orderly environment.

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Muftau Adewale

Ganiyu Muftau Adewale is a versatile Nigerian journalist with extensive experience in media, digital communication, and content development.

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