Osun poll: Accord Party lawmaker, 146 suspects arrested, Police

Police in Nigeria have arrested Abiola Ibrahim, a lawmaker representing Irewole/Isokan State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly. The arrest occurred in Ikire on suspicion of harboring approximately 146 individuals identified as suspected mercenaries.

The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest, stating that Ibrahim was apprehended at a private residence with the large group of people. The Federal Bureau of Investigation-Intelligence Response Team (FBI-IRT) took him into custody early Saturday morning.

Viral video footage showed police officers confronting Ibrahim at the residence. When questioned about the presence of the individuals, Ibrahim insisted they were registered voters participating in the ongoing election. "They are voters for the election happening today," Ibrahim stated in the video. "Some of them are indigenes from outside. I did not hire them. I did not promise anything. Voting is their choice. I’m not their agent," he added, identifying himself as a member of the Accord Party.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the gathering of these individuals on election day. The police's confirmation of the arrest and the lawmaker's claims present conflicting accounts of the situation.

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They are voters for the election happening today. Some of them are indigenes from outside. I did not hire them. I did not promise anything. Voting is their choice. I’m not their agent.