Osun Election: Police Arrest Assembly Member For Importing 146 Mercenaries

…Another 33 Arrested in Ede

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a serving member of the State House of Assembly in connection with the alleged importation of 146 electoral mercenaries into the state ahead of the governorship election.

The lawmaker, identified as Hon. Abiola Ibrahim, representing Irewole Isoko Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, was arrested on Friday night during an operation by the police.

The police said the lawmaker made a preliminary confessional statement indicating that he facilitated the movement of the 146 suspects into Osun State for the purpose of participating and voting in the election.

The lawmaker was reportedly arrested with over 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), while the 146 suspected mercenaries were allegedly found at his residence.

The development is part of intensified security operations by the police ahead of the election, as the command moves to prevent activities capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.

In a separate operation at Babs Hotel, located behind the State High Court in Ede, operatives of the Anti-Robbery Section and the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) arrested 33 suspected electoral mercenaries.

The suspects comprised 30 males and three females and were arrested following credible intelligence on the presence of a group of persons allegedly assembled for suspicious electoral activities.

According to the police, preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects were allegedly brought into Osun State from Ondo State to participate in unlawful electoral activities.

The suspects reportedly told investigators that they were recruited by an unidentified individual who allegedly facilitated the procurement of voters’ cards for them and instructed them to vote in exchange for financial rewards.

Four voters’ cards were recovered from the suspects and taken into police custody as exhibits.

The command said investigations had commenced to identify and apprehend other accomplices still at large and unravel the full extent of the alleged network involved in the recruitment of electoral mercenaries, voter inducement and other related offences.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful, free, fair and credible electoral process in Osun State.

Erale warned individuals and groups planning to engage in activities capable of undermining the election to desist, stressing that the police would deal decisively with electoral offences in accordance with the law.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station or through the official emergency lines.

The command assured residents of its readiness to maintain law and order before, during and after the election.

COURTESY: thesource.com.ng