Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Monday received the newly posted Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, and demanded comprehensive reforms in the state police command, including the immediate release of persons he described as political detainees.
Zungura, who assumed office on Monday, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Government House in Osogbo, accompanied by senior officers of the command. The meeting took place amid lingering tensions between the state government and the police following the August 15 governorship election and its aftermath.
Governor Adeleke urged the new police chief to rebuild public trust, end perceptions of partisanship, and ensure fair and impartial policing across the state.
“I therefore have specific requests as part of our efforts to consolidate peace and state reconciliation: Let us rebuild public trust in the police. You must make deliberate efforts to remove many areas of current police conduct that paint it as partisan and anti-people,” Adeleke stated.
The Governor listed key demands, including disciplinary action against the Divisional Police Officer in Ikire over a recent police operation that resulted in two deaths, describing the officer as a threat to the people he was posted to protect. He also called for the dissolution of compromised police operational units, full police participation in State Security Council meetings, and an end to further politically motivated arrests.
Adeleke specifically demanded the release of several members of the Accord Party whom he described as political detainees.
“I also call for the release of several Accord members arrested and indeterminate as political detainees. Further arrests of our members should also stop,” the Governor said.
He assured the new Commissioner of the state government’s readiness to support the police command, provided such support remains free of political considerations.
In response, CP Ibrahim Zungura pledged to restore public confidence in the police and ensure impartial law enforcement in Osun State.
The Governor also announced the inauguration of a 10-member Committee on Election Violence Victims to verify claims by persons affected by election-related violence and oversee the disbursement of the N500 million Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund.
The engagement signals the Adeleke administration’s commitment to fostering peace, reconciliation, and professional policing in the state.