A coalition of civil society organisations on Monday has protested in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, against surge in pockets of politically motivated violence, tasking the state governor, Ademola Adeleke to equip security agencies in the state.

 

The protesters expressed concerns over call for the removal of the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, saying his redeployment not a solution to the security challenges.

 

Armed with banner and placards bearing different inscriptions, the demonstrators, who had convened at Freedom Park in Osogbo, marched through Old Garage to Olaiya, Oke-Fia, before terminating it at the point of convergence.

 

Speaking during the protest held in Osogbo, the Executive Director of the World Institute for Peace, Lamina Omotoyosi, said the demonstration was aimed at demanding improved security and urging the state government to allow the police leadership focus on its constitutional responsibilities.

 

According to him, allegations of partisanship levelled against Gotan were politically motivated, insisting that the CP had demonstrated commitment to combating insecurity and criminal activities in the state.

 

He explained that the protest was organised by the World Institute for Peace in collaboration with the Osun Youth and Student Coalition Network and the Initiative for Local Government Development.

 

“We are here to tell the Inspector-General of Police that CP Ibrahim Gotan is doing well in terms of security in the state. We also want to advise the state government to exclude the Commissioner of Police from everything that has to do with politics,” he said.

 

Omotoyosi further called on the state government to provide greater support for security agencies, alleging that security infrastructure and logistics had deteriorated in recent years.

 

He claimed that armoured personnel carriers previously stationed across local government areas were no longer visible and that security agencies had not received adequate operational support from the government.

 

He also urged the government to account for funds budgeted for security, particularly expenditures reportedly made on the state-owned security outfit, the Amotekun Corps.

 

Meanwhile, a representative of the students, Jelili Olaniyi, said there was no justification for any move to redeploy the police commissioner.

 

According to him, “There is no justification for call for the redeployment of the CP because he has been doing the right thing in the state. He has been tackling insecurity, political thuggery and other criminal activities. I think this is the major reason some politicians are trying to politicise the issue of CP Ibrahim Gotan’s redeployment in the state.”

 

The protesters maintained that efforts should be focused on strengthening security and addressing political violence rather than engaging in controversies surrounding the police commissioner.