The Osun State Police Command has issued a stern warning to politicians and other interest groups against any action capable of sabotaging the planned resumption of duties by local government workers across the state on January 5.
The caution follows the announcement by the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) that its members would return to work after an 11-month strike triggered by a protracted crisis over control of local councils between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement released on Friday, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, disclosed that the command had received credible intelligence indicating that some “unscrupulous politicians” were planning to disrupt the peaceful resumption of work at various council secretariats.
He said the command would not tolerate any attempt to breach peace and public order, stressing that the police were fully prepared to maintain law and order throughout Osun State.
According to him, the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, cautioned that access to local government secretariats would be strictly restricted to bona fide staff.
“Any individual who is not a bona fide staff member of the local government authorities must refrain from approaching or loitering around the secretariats,” the statement warned.
Giwa-Alade added that police personnel had been directed to act firmly and professionally against anyone attempting to incite unrest or cause disturbances, noting that the command would not permit miscreants to undermine the peace and tranquillity that have been diligently sustained in the state.
The police further reassured residents of their unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property, emphasizing that officers would continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities with vigilance and professionalism.
Residents were urged to remain law-abiding and vigilant, and to cooperate with security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s control room numbers: 08039537995 and 08123823981, or the Complaint Response Unit lines: 08035143235, 08066286549 and 08030732461.