Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has urged the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, to ensure fair and impartial policing as the state begins efforts to restore public confidence following the violence and tensions that accompanied the recent governorship election.
Adeleke made the demand on Monday when Zungura paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Osogbo, shortly after assuming office as the new police commissioner.
The governor also inaugurated a 10-member Committee on Election Violence Victims to receive and verify petitions from residents affected by election-related violence and oversee the disbursement of the state government’s N500m relief fund.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said Adeleke asked the new CP to reorganise the police command, improve police-community relations and address concerns over alleged partisan conduct.
He assured Zungura of the state government’s support in maintaining peace and security, stressing that such support would come without political conditions.
Adeleke said rebuilding public trust in the police was essential to sustaining peace in the state.
“I therefore have specific requests as part of our efforts to consolidate peace and state reconciliation: Let us rebuild public trust in the police. You must make deliberate efforts to remove many areas of current police conduct that paint it as partisan and anti-people,” the governor said.
He also called for disciplinary action against the Divisional Police Officer of Ikire over a recent police operation that reportedly resulted in the deaths of two persons.
Adeleke described the incident as a serious concern and urged the new police leadership to ensure that officers operate within the law and remain accountable to the people they are deployed to protect.
The governor further called for the release of members of the Accord Party whom he described as political detainees, as well as an end to further arrests of his supporters.
He also requested that the state police command participate fully in meetings of the State Security Council.
Responding, Zungura pledged to work with the state government and other stakeholders to restore peace and confidence in the police.
“I promise to work with the state government for peace and stability of the state. I will be fair to all, and I will prove my commitment in the next few weeks. Osun is a peaceful state, and we will work to address all outstanding issues,” the new CP said.
Meanwhile, Adeleke inaugurated the Election Violence Victims Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.
The committee is expected to receive petitions and claims from victims, examine supporting evidence, determine eligible beneficiaries and recommend appropriate relief in line with the guidelines approved by the state government.
The government urged residents affected by election-related violence to submit genuine claims and relevant evidence to the committee, stressing that the N500m fund would be administered transparently and only to verified victims.
The committee comprises representatives of civil society organisations, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, alongside officials from the state Ministries of Information and Justice.
Other members include Eniola Omotoso, Emmanuel Olowu, Balkiss Akinleye, Moshood Suleiman, Moses Faremi, Yemi Lawal and Sola Sonibare, who will serve as secretary.
The committee is expected to undertake a transparent verification process to establish genuine claims and ensure that relief reaches residents who suffered losses as a result of election-related violence.
The development comes as the Adeleke administration seeks to address lingering concerns over the conduct of the recent election, strengthen security cooperation and promote reconciliation across Osun State.
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