A coalition of civil society organisations in Osun State has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Inspector-General of Police. The group is demanding an immediate review of the state police leadership, specifically calling for the removal of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan. They have warned that failure to meet this demand will result in widespread public protests.
During a press briefing in Osogbo on Tuesday, representatives from the Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun State expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of law enforcement. They accused the command under CP Gotan of failing to handle cases of political violence, intimidation, and recent fatalities effectively. The coalition highlighted the tragic death of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade in Ilobu as a primary driver for their demand.
Demola Yaya, the convener of the Citizenship and Citizen Awareness Centre, stated that the request for redeployment stems from a loss of public confidence. He pointed to alleged incidents of police officers protecting political thugs and interfering with neutral law enforcement. Yaya clarified that the goal is not to undermine the police force but to ensure that personnel with integrity are in charge during the upcoming election cycle.
Furthermore, the group called upon the Osun State Governor to exert his authority as the Chief Security Officer to prioritize public safety. In response to these claims, CP Ibrahim Gotan rejected the allegations of bias. He defended his record, asserting that his leadership has successfully curtailed serious crimes including cultism and banditry throughout his one-year tenure.