Abuja: An Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu, seeking urgent intervention to halt the spate of killings in Osun ahead of the upcoming governorship election on August 15.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Olajengbesi submitted his petition at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, expressing concern over recurring incidents of violence in Osun. He urged police authorities to deploy tactical personnel to the state to restore peace and protect innocent residents. Olajengbesi alleged that the politically motivated killings posed a serious threat to public safety, democratic governance, and the credibility of the forthcoming election.
The lawyer highlighted that election-related violence in Osun had resulted in the loss of lives, injuries to citizens, destruction of property, and widespread fear across various communities. He called for a comprehensive investigation into all reported cases of political violence, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible regardless of political affiliation, and the deployment of additional police personnel to identified flashpoints.
Olajengbesi also requested a review of the state’s security architecture to ensure peaceful elections and directives to all police formations in Osun to enforce the law impartially throughout the electoral period. Writing in his capacity as a legal practitioner, concerned citizen, and spokesperson of the Imole Campaign Council, Olajengbesi aimed to draw police leadership’s attention to what he described as a deteriorating security situation and an alarming pattern of political violence in the state.
He emphasized that the right to life is the most fundamental right guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force has a constitutional duty to protect lives and property and maintain public order. Citing the killing of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Olajengbesi noted that such incidents form part of a broader pattern of violent occurrences affecting several local government areas in the state.
The petition included schedules with names of victims, dates and locations of incidents, witness statements, photographs, videos, media publications, and other documentary materials. Olajengbesi expressed concern over declining public confidence in the ability of law enforcement agencies to prevent political violence and ensure accountability, stating that incidents without prompt, transparent, and effective response encourage impunity and undermine confidence in democratic institutions.
He urged police authorities to act decisively, stressing that the forthcoming governorship election should not be conducted in an atmosphere of fear. Olajengbesi emphasized that elections should be decided by the freely expressed will of the people through the ballot, not by intimidation, violence, or bloodshed. He urged the Inspector-General’s office to treat the petition with urgency, stating that the preservation of lives, the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy, and public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force require decisive and timely intervention.