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About 40,000 police officers are being deployed to Osun state for the September 22 governorship election.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 11, Danjuma Ibrahim disclosed this on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state in his Agodi Governors office, Ibadan.
The AIG who was accompanied by the police hierarchy from the Oyo, Osun and Ondo commands, explained that police officers are being mobilized to identify and block every entry and exit points to the state so as to prevent troublemakers from sneaking into the state before or during the election.
On the purpose of the visit, AIG Ibrahim said he came to seek both the moral and physical support of Governor Ajimobi, particularly to help sensitize the people of the state on the need to stay away from the neighbourng state during the election and not allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians.
While appealing for more support, AIG Ibrahim thanked the governor for the support he had so far given to the police.
He said: “Your Excellency, election is coming in Osun. Osun by extension is part of you. It is just like whatever affects the eyes affects the nose. Our concern is that we are conscious that some people around here and some other places might want to sneak or shift to Osun and cause problems.
“I have called and met the GOC and all the commissioners of Police commands in the zone to discuss. The mobile men are also being mobilized from Abuja and we have 36,000 men or approximately 40,000 men that are coming for that election.
“We will seal all the entry and exit points just because we don’t want to have any problem. We will charge the policy so that anybody thinking or planning to foment any trouble will think twice but that is not to say, we are not up to the task.
“In all honesty, I have been in Osun, it is a very peaceful environment, the people are peace-loving but we don’t want to fold our arms because of that. You will be surprised something else will spring up and it will be obvious at that time that we have not planned and we will fail in our duties.
“We are calling on your Excellency to please, give us your prayers with the moral and practical supports. The moral support we are talking about is for you to please talk to your people through the media or the social media to please stay away and desist from going there to look for trouble. We pray and hope that the election will be free, fair and credible.”
While responding, Governor Ajimobi assured the police boss of the continuous support of the state to the police to foster peaceful coexistence. He also assured that the state will support the Zone 11 with the necessary support in terms of fixing the operational vehicles and equipment that needed attention.
Describing the new police boss as dogged and resilient, Governor Ajimobi expressed confidence that the AIG 11 will succeed in his new assignment, especially in the conduct of the Osun Governorship election, assuring that the party has done enough to win the state again.