Osun Governor, New Police Chief Seek Peace, Reconciliation; Governor Lists Five Key Requests

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has met with the newly appointed Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Zungura, to forge a new partnership aimed at restoring peace and fostering reconciliation within the state. The meeting highlighted the governor's commitment to addressing lingering post-election tensions and improving police-civilian relations, which he described as being at an "all-time low."

“

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.

During the courtesy visit, Governor Adeleke presented five specific requests to Commissioner Zungura. A primary concern was the immediate commencement of disciplinary action against the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ikire, who was allegedly implicated in an incident that resulted in two fatalities. Adeleke stated that the DPO had become a "threat to the people he was posted to protect."

“

Post-election peace is yet to be fully restored. A police operation today claimed two lives at Ikire. Your DPO for Ikire was fingered.

The governor emphasized the need to rebuild public trust in the police force, urging deliberate efforts to eliminate conduct that portrays the police as partisan and anti-people. He also called for a strengthened, closer working relationship between the state government and the police command, clarifying that the government seeks "no favor other than fair policing."

“

Let us rebuild public trust in the police. You must make deliberate efforts to remove many areas of current police conduct that paints it as partisan and anti-people.

Further requests included reorganizing the internal workings and operations of the state police command, addressing concerns that certain police units are perceived as biased. Adeleke also stressed the importance of full police participation in State Security Council meetings, noting that the previous commissioner's attendance had been infrequent. Finally, he called for the release of Accord members arrested and held as political detainees, and an end to further arrests of party members, while assuring police operations of government support without conditions, provided policing remains fair.

“

Reorganise internal workings and operations of the state police command. I know you will be worried that Osun people see certain police units as the home base of APC thugs. There is a need to dissolve many police operational units because they have been compromised.