TICC Asks IGP to Probe Unresolved Killings, Redeploy Osun CP
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to order a fresh investigation into unresolved politically related killings in Osun State and redeploy the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Gotan, alleging that confidence in the command’s impartiality has been eroded.
The council also urged the police authorities to investigate the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, former federal lawmaker, Hon. Wole Oke, and former Commissioner for Works, Mr. Remi Omowaiye, over alleged links to separate incidents of political violence in the state.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, TICC said recent developments in the state’s security architecture had raised serious concerns about public confidence in law enforcement.
According to the council, reports that members of a police tactical team involved in high profile arrests were later transferred or redeployed, alongside recent public comments by the Commissioner of Police on an alleged assassination plot involving political figures, had heightened political tension across the state.
“The Commissioner’s recent public briefing has unfortunately deepened rather than eased public concerns. References to unnamed influential persons’ allegedly implicated in ongoing investigations, without presenting verifiable facts or allowing due process to run its course, have created fertile ground for political speculation, media trials and unnecessary anxiety,” the statement read.
It warned that such an approach could create the impression that security agencies were being drawn into political contests instead of maintaining their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property without bias.
As the Inspector-General of Police visits Osun State, the council urged him to reopen investigations into several killings which it claimed had yet to receive adequate attention from the police command.
TICC listed victims it alleged were killed in separate incidents of political violence before the February 2025 crisis.
They include Aderemi Abideen Abiodun, Aderonbi Abass, Ganiyu Gele, Wole, a vulcaniser in Ile-Ife, Rafiu Quadri Abiodun and Elijah Baba Ewe. The council alleged that the victims were attacked by political thugs linked to the APC.
The statement also mentioned those who lost their lives during the February 17, 2025 violence that accompanied the forceful takeover of local government secretariats by reinstated APC chairmen.
They include Damilare Oloyede and Oyebamiji Taiwo of Boripe Local Government, Abdullahi Olawale Akanfe of Ola-Oluwa Local Government, Bakare Toheeb of Irewole Local Government, as well as Ismaila Ibrahim and Kasali Adebayo of Ilesa West Local Government.
Calling for the redeployment of Commissioner Gotan, the council said the move had become necessary to restore public confidence in the Osun State Police Command.
“This call is not made out of hostility toward any individual but in the overriding interest of restoring public trust in policing within Osun State. Confidence in law enforcement is indispensable to peaceful elections, political stability and effective crime fighting,” the statement added.
The council further appealed to the IGP to invite and investigate APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, over the killing of Kolade Eluyera, a PDP member from Ikire.
According to TICC, Eluyera had previously served as a PDP polling unit agent and was expected to serve as an Accord Party polling agent during the forthcoming election. It alleged that the circumstances surrounding his death warranted a thorough police investigation.
Similarly, the council asked the police to investigate former House of Representatives member, Wole Oke, over the killing of Aderogba Ajayi of Esa-Oke.
It alleged that eyewitnesses, including the deceased’s wife, accused Oke’s personal assistant, identified as Omo Aje, of masterminding the attack.
TICC also called for the investigation of former Commissioner for Works, Remi Omowaiye, over the deaths of Ismaila Ibrahim and Kasali Adebayo during the February 17, 2025 violence in Ilesa West Local Government.
The council claimed that eyewitnesses alleged Omowaiye was in the same vehicle with the gunmen who allegedly opened fire on the victims, adding that several petitions submitted to the police had not been acted upon.
In addition, it urged the Inspector-General to order the arrest of Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, alongside Agboola Sogo, Azeez Tajudeen (Ketu), Suleiman Adebare (Couple), Oyinlola Muideen (Agbara), Ayodeji Jide, Makinde and Azeez Mecho over their alleged involvement in the killings of Oladimeji Taiwo and Damilare Oloyede in Boripe Local Government.
The council further alleged that officers of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Zone XI were attacked and injured while attempting to arrest the suspects.
TICC, however, appealed to its supporters to remain peaceful and continue to cooperate with security agencies ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
“We call on all our supporters to remain law-abiding, avoid inflammatory conduct and continue to cooperate with lawful security operations. We remain committed to peaceful political engagement before, during and after the August 15 elections,” the statement concluded.