The Osun State Government has received the newly posted Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, with Governor Ademola Adeleke demanding reforms in the state police command and the release of persons he described as political detainees.
Zungura, who assumed duty in Osun on Monday, paid a courtesy visit to Adeleke alongside senior officers of the command, where he pledged to work with the state government to restore peace and public confidence in the police.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of strained relations between the Adeleke administration and the police during the build-up to and aftermath of the August 15 governorship election.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Zungura speaking during the meeting, promised to ensure impartial policing and work with the government to address security concerns in the state.
“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,” he said.
Adeleke speaking during the meeting said post-election peace had yet to be fully restored in the state and urged the new CP to take steps to rebuild trust between residents and the police.
The governor also referred to a recent police operation in Ikire in which two people were reportedly killed, alleging that the Divisional Police Officer in the area had been implicated in the incident.
“Based on all details of the attacks, I request immediate commencement of disciplinary action against the DPO. He has become a threat to the people he was posted to protect,” Adeleke said.
He listed five requests which he said would help restore peace and normalcy to the state’s political space.
Adeleke first asked Zungura to rebuild public trust in the police by ensuring that officers operate professionally, impartially and in a people-oriented manner.
He also called for closer cooperation between the state government and the police command, stressing that his administration was seeking “no favour other than fair policing.”
The governor further urged the new CP to reorganise the internal operations of the command and address units he alleged had been compromised or perceived as partisan.
“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,” he said.
Adeleke also requested full police participation in the State Security Council meetings, alleging that the predecessor of the new CP last attended such a meeting in 2024.
His fifth request was for the release of Accord Party members he described as political detainees and an end to further arrests of members of the party on political grounds.
“I also call for the release of several Accord members arrested and indeterminate as political detainees. Further arrests of our members should also stop,” Adeleke said.
The governor said his administration was prepared to support the police command but insisted that such support would not be tied to political considerations.
“Our government is ready to support police operations without any strings attached. What we seek is fair policing,” he said.
Zungura’s appointment followed the deployment of the former substantive Commissioner of Police in Osun, Ibrahim Gotan, amid concerns over the neutrality of the command ahead of the governorship election.
Adeleke, who secured a second term in the August 15 election, said he was extending an olive branch to all stakeholders.
“Osun deserves peace. Osun deserves justice. Osun deserves a police command that enjoys the confidence of all citizens, regardless of political affiliation,” he said.
“Let us work together to heal our state, rebuild trust and give peace a permanent home in Osun.”