The newly posted Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Zungura, has assumed duty with Governor Ademola Adeleke urging him to reform the state police command and restore public confidence in the wake of the August 15 governorship election.
Zungura made his first official engagement with the governor on Monday when he led senior officers of the command on a courtesy visit to Adeleke.
He pledged to work with the state government to promote peace, stability and impartial policing.
The meeting came against the backdrop of strained relations between the Adeleke administration and the police command during the build-up to and aftermath of the governorship election, which the governor won for a second term.
According to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Zungura assured Adeleke that the command would address outstanding security concerns and work towards restoring confidence in the police.
“I promise to work with the state government for peace and stability of the state. I will be fair to all, and I will prove my commitment in the next few weeks. Osun is a peaceful state, and we will work to address all outstanding issues,” the new CP said.
Responding, Adeleke said peace had not been fully restored following the election and urged Zungura to take immediate steps to rebuild the relationship between the police and residents.
The governor also raised concerns over a recent police operation in Ikire, during which two people were reportedly killed.
He alleged that the Divisional Police Officer in the area had been implicated and called for disciplinary action.
“Based on all details of the attacks, I request immediate commencement of disciplinary action against the DPO. He has become a threat to the people he was posted to protect,” Adeleke said.
The governor outlined five demands which he said were necessary to restore peace and normalcy to Osun’s political environment.
First, he asked the new police commissioner to rebuild public trust by ensuring that officers conduct their duties professionally, impartially and in a manner that prioritises the interests of residents.
Adeleke also called for stronger cooperation between the government and the police command, stressing that his administration was not seeking preferential treatment but “fair policing”.
He further urged Zungura to reorganise the command and review police units which, according to him, had been compromised or were perceived as politically partisan.
“I know you will be worried that Osun people see certain police units as the home base of APC thugs. There is a need to dissolve many police operational units because they have been compromised,” the governor said.
Adeleke also demanded the full participation of the police command in meetings of the State Security Council.
He alleged that the immediate predecessor of Zungura last attended such a meeting in 2024.
His final request was for the release of members of the Accord party whom he described as political detainees and an end to what he called politically motivated arrests of party members.
“I also call for the release of several Accord members arrested and indeterminate as political detainees. Further arrests of our members should also stop,” Adeleke said.
The governor assured the new CP that his administration was willing to support police operations but stressed that such assistance would not be conditional on political considerations.
“Our government is ready to support police operations without any strings attached. What we seek is fair policing,” he said.
Zungura’s deployment to Osun followed the removal of the former substantive Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, amid concerns over the neutrality of the command ahead of the August 15 election.
Adeleke said his administration was extending an olive branch to stakeholders across the state, insisting that Osun needed a police command trusted by citizens irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Osun deserves peace. Osun deserves justice. Osun deserves a police command that enjoys the confidence of all citizens, regardless of political affiliation,” he said.
“Let us work together to heal our state, rebuild trust and give peace a permanent home in Osun.”
