Osun Poll: Police Dispute Casualty Figures, Blames Cultists for Recent Killings
The Osun State Police Command has dismissed reports linking recent killings in the state to political violence, saying more than 70 per cent of the incidents recorded were cult-related.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed this on Friday while speaking on CHRICED TV’s morning programme, Inside Naija.
According to a Pre-Election Security Risk Assessment (ESRA) conducted by the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) and presented to journalists, no fewer than 73 election-related violent incidents, resulting in 29 deaths, have been recorded in Osun State, with Osogbo identified as the worst-hit area.
However, Ojelabi disputed the figure, saying he did not have the exact number at hand but that the fatalities were far below 29. He added that several reports circulating online had wrongly attributed some of the deaths to political activities, describing the casualty figures being circulated as inaccurate.
According to him, the latest killing recorded four days ago was a cult-related reprisal attack, rather than a politically motivated incident.
“More than 70 per cent of the killings do not have links with politics,” Ojelabi said, alleging that some politicians had attempted to exploit cult-related killings by claiming the victims belonged to their political parties.
The police spokesman challenged politicians making such claims to provide evidence of party membership, including registration records or party cards, to substantiate their allegations.
“You know all these cultists; when they attack, they will retaliate. We got reliable information that politicians have bought them (cultists) over so that by the time they kill somebody, a party will come up and say this is our party member.
“I have challenged them severally that if they are truly your party members, show evidence of their registration with you or with your ward or head office wherever or a party card; in fact, more than 70% of the killings do not have a link with politics”
Ojelabi also assured residents of the command’s neutrality during the governorship election, saying policemen had signed an oath of neutrality and would focus on securing polling units and maintaining a level playing field.
According to him, four policemen would be deployed to each polling unit, alongside personnel from other security agencies, while armed officers would remain away from the voting arena except when required to respond to emergencies.
On vote buying, Ojelabi said there was no law preventing voters from taking mobile phones to polling units but warned that security personnel would prevent voters from photographing their ballot papers for the purpose of collecting money from political party agents.
He urged residents to go about their activities on Friday but warned that movement would be restricted on Saturday, with only people on essential duties allowed to move around.
The PPRO also warned political parties, their supporters and influential politicians against violating the movement restriction order, adding that police would impound vehicles belonging to violators, regardless of their status.
