The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has assured residents of Osun State and other Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force will remain professional, apolitical and impartial throughout the August 15 governorship election.

Disu gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja while meeting with a delegation of civil society organisations led by Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC). The meeting focused on security preparations and concerns surrounding the forthcoming poll.

The police chief acknowledged concerns over possible electoral violence, voter intimidation, political thuggery and the perceived neutrality of security agencies. He said the concerns were legitimate and required transparency and concrete measures from law enforcement authorities.

Disu said the police had already put comprehensive security arrangements in place for the election and stressed that the force has no preferred candidate or political party. He maintained that its primary responsibility is to ensure that voters are able to freely exercise their constitutional rights.

He further disclosed that officers assigned to election duties had been reminded of their constitutional obligations to enforce the law fairly and without favour. Adequate personnel and operational resources have also been deployed across the state, while intelligence gathering and threat assessments have been intensified ahead of the poll.

The IGP warned that anyone involved in vote buying, voter intimidation, ballot box snatching, political thuggery or other electoral offences would face legal consequences, irrespective of their political affiliation or status.

Disu also appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to avoid violence and conduct their campaigns responsibly. He urged Osun residents to participate peacefully and report suspicious activities to security personnel.

Speaking earlier, Rafsanjani said civil society organisations would continue working with security agencies to support a free, fair and credible election. Yiaga Africa Executive Director Samson Itodo described the Osun election as an important test for Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to withdraw its directive restricting access to Osun State Government’s account, following the controversy surrounding the account freeze.

The development comes after the EFCC placed a Post-No-Debit (PND) restriction on an Osun State Government statutory allocation account domiciled with First Bank, preventing withdrawals from the account as part of an ongoing investigation.

The action sparked a political uproar after Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, accused the anti-graft agency of attempting to cripple government operations ahead of the state’s governorship election. The governor argued that freezing a state government account lacked legal justification and could affect the payment of salaries and other government obligations.

Sources familiar with the matter said President Tinubu’s intervention was aimed at resolving the dispute and preventing further escalation between the federal agency and the Osun State Government. The EFCC had earlier maintained that the restriction was connected to an ongoing investigation and that several government officials had been invited in connection with the probe.

The account restriction had heightened political tension in Osun, coming shortly before the state’s governorship election, with opposition figures and observers questioning the timing of the action.

As of the time of this report, further details on the formal communication between the Presidency and the EFCC, including whether the restriction has been officially lifted, are still awaited.

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a suspected human trafficker and rescued a 25-year-old woman during an operation targeting human trafficking and other organised crimes. The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to dismantle trafficking networks and protect vulnerable persons.

According to police authorities, the suspect was apprehended following credible intelligence, while the victim was successfully rescued before she could be moved to an undisclosed destination. Preliminary investigations indicate that the woman may have been deceived with false promises before falling into the suspect’s custody.

Police said the rescued woman is receiving the necessary care and support while investigators work to uncover the full extent of the trafficking operation and identify other individuals who may be connected to the syndicate. The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.

The command reiterated its commitment to combating human trafficking and urged members of the public to report suspicious activities involving the recruitment, movement or exploitation of individuals. It also encouraged citizens to remain vigilant and verify employment or travel offers before accepting them.

Authorities assured that anyone found involved in human trafficking or related offences would face prosecution in accordance with the law as efforts continue to curb the crime across the country.