Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has directed security agencies in the state to arrest any resident who violates the directive on restriction of movement.
This is as the House of Assembly election holds on Saturday, March 18, 2023, across the 30 local governments and area offices of Osun.
Recall also that the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, had on Thursday, March 16, 2023, issued a directive restricting movement of vehicles and persons except those on election duty during the duration of the exercise.
In a press statement signed by the spokesperson to the Governor, Rasheed Olawale, on Friday, March 16, 2023, Adeleke tasked the security agencies to enforce previous directives and regulations which require political leaders to stay in their areas after voting instead of moving round towns and villages.
“Any resident who breaches the directive on movement restriction should be picked up. Political leaders who patrol around towns and villages during election should desist as security operatives are under directive to stop such movement. Nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be allowed to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the assembly elections.
“I have directed immediate arrest of hoodlums and political thugs statewide. Any leader who harbors such merchants of violence should await the full wrath of the law.
“As a follow up, security agencies have commenced raiding and cleaning up of hotspots and hideouts of criminals across the state. There will be no hiding place for those who are bent on foisting violence on the peace loving people of Osun State.
“This election will be conducted peacefully. I call on Osun people to troop out enmasse to exercise their civic rights. I assure our people of maximum security. We must ensure high turnout. Pick your PVC and exercise your constitutional rights to vote and be voted for.”
Also, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, the Command reiterated that restriction of vehicular movement will be enforced to the letter as there will not be movement of vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles from 12am to 6pm on the election day, except for those on essential services.
“The Command is resolute to arrest and prosecute any person found in possession of illegal firearms during the poll. Anyone found in the act of intimidating/causing fear or apprehension to the members of the public before, during, and after the election process will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“In the same vein, the Command is using this same medium to urge the public to report any police officer and other security agents found performing illegal duties or any impostor, parading himself/herself as a police officer or any other security agent during the poll to appropriate authority for proper sanction. The Police Control numbers to call are: 08039537995, 08075872433, 08123823981, PPRO: 08067788119.”
While warning that any individual conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace will be dealt with in accordance with the law, the Police advised parents and guardians to be security conscious and caution their children and wards to be law abiding.
Source: Daily Post
