The Nigeria Police have drawn a firm line on who will guard Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, making it clear that quasi-security outfits will have no role in the process. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Iniedu, delivered the message on Thursday during a stakeholders’ engagement at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo.
Iniedu was blunt: “All quasi security units like the Osun Amotekun corps, vigilante, hunters will not partake in the election security and the Nigeria Police for the purpose of the election is dealing with only constitutionally recognised security agencies. We have spoken to them and we told them that we will not need them for the period of this election.”
The decision signals a strict interpretation of the law, with the police choosing to rely solely on formal security bodies. Iniedu also confirmed that roughly 15,000 personnel from both combat and tactical units have been deployed across the state. Two units of the Police Mobile Force will be stationed in local government areas, while a dedicated unit has been assigned to the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Osogbo.
The police have stacked the command structure for the poll. “As we speak, there is a Commissioner of Police attached to each local government. There is also a Deputy Commissioner of Police attached to each local government. Also, there is a PMF Commander attached,” Iniedu said.
On election day, four police officers will be posted to every polling unit. Aerial surveillance is already in motion, with police helicopters and drones on the ground in the state, set to monitor the situation before, during, and after the vote.
Iniedu also appealed to mothers to keep their children away from any form of electoral malpractice, warning that a mobile court is in place to prosecute those arrested for electoral crimes. He closed by commending stakeholders for their cooperation in working toward a peaceful poll.
