Civil society organisations, CSOs, in Osun State have given the Inspector-General of Police a 72-hour ultimatum to review the leadership and structure of the state Police Command, warning that failure to act could trigger a mass protest across the state.
The groups, operating under the umbrella of the Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun State, made the demand during a press briefing in Osogbo on Tuesday, where they reiterated calls for the redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan.
Alleging that the command under Gotan’s leadership had failed to inspire public confidence, the organisations accused the police command of not adequately addressing alleged incidents of political violence, intimidation, killings and attacks on residents.
Citing the recent killing of Ezekiel Olapade, a 14-year-old boy by hoodlums suspected to be working for politicians, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, they warned that if the Inspector-General failed to act within the stipulated period, they would mobilise residents for street protests to press home their demand for reforms within the police structure in the state.
“We urge the Inspector-General of Police to review the Osun State Police Command architecture within 72 hours. In the absence of this, we shall have no other option than to occupy the streets with citizens to demand the total restructuring of the Osun State Police Command,” the groups stated.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the Convener of the Citizenship and Citizen Awareness Centre, Comrade Demola Yaya, said the latest demand followed an earlier peaceful
