Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has declared that he does not condone criminality and that security agencies should arrest anyone found culpable, including members of his family.
The governor made the remarks on Friday while responding to the police chief during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Adeleke’s comments followed allegations that some criminal suspects being sought by the police were allegedly taking refuge in the Government House.
Reacting to the claim, the governor denied shielding any suspect and urged the police to arrest anyone who had committed an offence, regardless of status or family ties.
“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.
His remarks came amid renewed scrutiny over police conduct, with the governor also accusing some officers of playing what he described as “games” in the discharge of their duties.
He cited 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.
The governor said he remained prepared to work with the police, but insisted that professionalism, discipline and fairness must guide their operations.
He praised the police leadership for promising to tackle indiscipline within the Nigeria Police Force and urged officers to act without bias in the enforcement of the law.
“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.
The governor’s statement is likely to draw attention in Osun and beyond, particularly because it touches on two sensitive issues at once: public trust in law enforcement and allegations of political interference in criminal investigations.
Adeleke’s insistence that even a family member should not be spared if found guilty was framed as a public declaration of zero tolerance for crime. At the same time, his criticism of the police points to continuing tension over how investigations are handled and how officers are rewarded or punished after making arrests.
The comments also come at a time when Nigerians continue to demand greater accountability from both political leaders and security agencies, especially in cases involving violent crimes, child killings and alleged attempts to obstruct justice.
For now, the governor has made his position clear: no individual, no matter how close to him, should be exempt from the law if evidence of wrongdoing is established.
Follow us on our broadcast channels today!
- WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VawZ8TbDDmFT1a1Syg46
- Telegram: https://t.me/atlanticpostchannel
- Facebook: https://www.messenger.com/channel/atlanticpostng
