The Osun State Government has accused the Nigeria Police Force in the state of carrying out a series of raids on the homes of top government officials, including the residence of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye, without obtaining search warrants.
The allegation was made on Wednesday in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in Osogbo.
According to Alimi, the latest operation involved a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, who allegedly stormed the SSG’s residence and arrested some of his family members.
He claimed the operation was part of a series of raids targeting senior officials of the state government.
“The Osun State Government has raised the alarm over the systematic invasion, attacks and bursting of the homes of top government officials by the Osun State Police Command without proper search warrants, with the latest being the invasion of the residence of the Secretary to the State Government,” Alimi said.
He further alleged that the police took away some members of the SSG’s family to an undisclosed location.
According to the commissioner, the incident occurred while the SSG was attending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ forum, with ward officials holding a meeting within the premises at the time of the operation.
Alimi also alleged that the residence of the Commissioner for Energy in Ikire was raided on Tuesday, claiming that officers searched the building and damaged some property.
He added that about five other commissioners had also reported surveillance or raids on their residences despite, according to him, no unlawful activities taking place there.
The commissioner further claimed that several members of the Accord Party had been arrested and were being held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Osun State Police Command without being granted bail.
Describing the operations as politically motivated, Alimi accused the police of acting in the interest of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
“These raids on the SSG and our commissioners are an aggravated assault on the government and people of Osun State. This campaign of repression constitutes a grave danger to democracy,” he said.
He also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, the National Security Adviser, President Bola Tinubu and other relevant authorities to intervene and halt what he described as escalating intimidation of government officials and party members ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
When contacted for a response, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said he needed more time before commenting on the allegations.
Advertisement