POLICE TO DEPLOY FOUR OFFICERS PER POLLING UNIT IN OSUN – IG

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has announced that the Nigeria Police Force will deploy at least four officers to each polling unit for the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

Speaking during a meeting with civil society organisations in Abuja on Friday, Disu described the operation as one of the largest security deployments ever undertaken in the state.

He noted that Osun has 30 local government areas, 332 wards, and 3,673 polling units, making the security operation larger than previous elections conducted in states such as Ekiti and Anambra.

According to the IG, each polling unit will also have support from other security agencies to ensure adequate protection of voters and election officials.

Disu said the large deployment is necessary because of the growing political tension ahead of the election and is aimed at giving residents the confidence to vote without fear.

He disclosed that security personnel have already begun arriving in the state, especially in areas identified as potential violence hotspots.

The police chief urged political parties, candidates, and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, stressing that no political ambition is worth the loss of human life.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, described the Osun governorship election as a major test for restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He expressed concerns over the neutrality of security agencies and revealed that 13 of Osun’s 30 local government areas have been classified as high-risk due to killings, violent attacks, and rising political tension.

According to Yiaga Africa, about 34 people were killed in 44 violent incidents across the state between June 2025 and June 2026, prompting calls for risk-based security deployment in identified flashpoints.