Police warn against electoral violence, ban non-state security outfits in Osun

ABUJA — The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has barred the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, vigilante groups, Joint Civilian Task Force, CJTF, hunters’ associations, community-based security groups and neighbourhood watch outfits from participating in security operations during Saturday’s Osun State governorship election. The Police said the non-state and quasi-security formations had no role in election security, including escorting electoral materials, guarding polling units, mounting checkpoints or bearing arms. The Force, in a statement issued by its Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, urged all concerned to comply with the directive in the interest of peace.

The Police warned political parties, candidates, supporters and members of the public against violence, intimidation and thuggery during the election. It said recurring electoral offences such as ballot snatching, voter intimidation, vote buying and clashes between rival supporters would not be tolerated. According to the Force, anyone involved in such offences, either as a direct perpetrator or sponsor, would be arrested and prosecuted irrespective of political affiliation or status.

The Police identified the NPF, Department of State Services, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Correctional Service and Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, among the authorised agencies for election security. It said the joint deployment would cover all 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State, including polling units, collation centres, electoral materials, officials, observers, journalists and voters. The Force also warned political parties, candidates and the public against engaging, arming or deploying any unauthorised security outfit for election-related activities.

“Any member or sponsor of such unauthorised outfits will be arrested and dealt with according to the law,” it said. The Police further reiterated that firearms, dangerous weapons and other offensive materials were prohibited around polling units and collation centres, except those lawfully carried by accredited security personnel on election duty. It said persons found involved in thuggery, obstruction of electoral officials, unlawful possession of election materials, hate speech or incitement to violence would…

ABUJA — The Nigeria Police Force has warned political parties, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders against violence, intimidation and thuggery ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026. The Force, in a statement issued yesterday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, said anyone who attempts to disrupt the electoral process would face the full weight of the law. It specifically warned against ballot snatching, voter intimidation, vote buying and clashes among supporters of rival political parties.

The Police said persons involved in electoral offences, either as direct perpetrators or sponsors, would be arrested and prosecuted irrespective of their political affiliation or status. The Force also warned that non-state and quasi-security outfits have no role in securing the election. It listed the Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun, vigilante groups, Joint Civilian Task Force, hunters’ associations, community-based security groups and neighbourhood watch outfits among those prohibited from participating in election security.