Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has declared that he does not condone criminality, saying security agencies should arrest anyone found culpable, including members of his family.
Adeleke made the remarks on Friday while responding to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital.
The governor’s response followed allegations by the IGP that the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had briefed him that some criminal suspects being sought by the police were allegedly taking refuge in the Government House.
Reacting, Adeleke denied shielding criminals and urged the police to arrest anyone found to have committed an offence.
“If you see any of my people that committed a crime, arrest them. If it is my son who committed a crime, arrest him, let him learn his lesson, and that is what I am saying in front of the IGP,” he said.
The governor, however, accused some police officers of playing “games” in the discharge of their duties, citing the alleged transfer of an officer who arrested a suspect linked to the killing of a 14-year-old boy in Ilobu.
“But for you to be playing all these games and everything like that, the person that they killed, a 14-year-old boy in Ilobu, because the police officer did a good job under the directive of the Inspector General of Police and arrested the suspect that killed the boy, you transferred the officer,” Adeleke said.
He commended the IGP for pledging to address indiscipline within the Nigeria Police Force but urged officers to remain professional and impartial.
“I am glad the Inspector General of Police is here today, and he has said it openly that he will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, and he has given you a warning that you will not tolerate crime. That is why I am happy.
“If you change tomorrow, I will continue to cooperate with the police. Police is our friend. We are not fighting the police, but you have to do right,” the governor added.
