Hundreds of police officers deployed to Osun for the August 15 governorship election have reportedly remained in the state weeks after the conclusion of the poll, with some allegedly facing poor feeding and difficult living conditions.
Sources within the Nigeria Police Force said the affected personnel were drawn from about 50 Police Mobile Force (MOPOL) squadrons and deployed to various parts of the state to provide security during the election.
According to the sources, some of the officers have yet to be returned to their respective formations, while others are allegedly staying in makeshift camps with inadequate food and other basic welfare provisions.
One source described the situation as concerning, alleging that the officers had been left with little or nothing to do after the election.
Another source reportedly said some of the personnel were stranded around the Gbongan area of Osun State, raising questions over why they had not been demobilised and returned to their commands after the electoral exercise.
The development comes weeks after the police announced a major security deployment for the election.
The Nigeria Police Force had said more than 15,000 personnel were deployed across the state’s 30 local government areas to secure polling units, collation centres and other strategic locations.
The deployment included personnel from the Police Mobile Force and other specialised units.
The Force also assigned senior officers to coordinate the operation, including a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, while Assistant Inspectors-General and Commissioners of Police were deployed across the state’s three senatorial districts.
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The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room also reported that about 15,000 police officers were deployed for the election, alongside 10,210 personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and 100 officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
However, sources familiar with the situation after the election alleged that a substantial number of police personnel remained in Osun long after voting and collation had ended.
The Osun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, reportedly did not respond to requests seeking clarification on whether the officers had been withdrawn and the reason for their continued stay in the state.
The reported welfare concerns could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.
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