Osun Governorship Poll: Police To Deploy 15,000 Personnel

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Osun governorship election, Samuel Erale Etaifo, has disclosed that no fewer than 15,000 personnel have been deployed for the conduct of the August 16 governorship election in the state.

Etaifo, who spoke during a meeting with some police personnel deployed for the election at the Police Officers’ Mess in Osogbo on Wednesday, cautioned them against any act capable of compromising the conduct of the exercise.

According to him, anyone caught compromising a free and fair election — whether a police officer, political gladiator, or member of any political party — will be dealt with within the ambit of the law.

He disclosed that whoever is arrested for any crime during and after the election will be moved to Abuja to face prosecution.

“Arrested violators of electoral laws will be moved straight to Abuja. No one arrested here in Osun during or after the election will be detained here. This election is a federal government election. Anybody arrested will be taken to Abuja,” he said.

“As I speak with you, the total number of officers that will come for this election should be nothing less than 15,000. This includes conventional policemen, specialists, the dog section, medical personnel, and the PMF. The DIG and AIG in charge of these operations are coming.

“I will be the CP in charge of the election. That is why the IGP has deployed me here. We are supposed to arrive here about four or five days before the election, but because of the heightened tension, the IGP said I should come early as the officer in charge,” Etaifo stated.