The South West Youth Alliance (SWYA) has dismissed as false and malicious allegations circulating in parts of the media that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, and officers of the Osun State Police Command are harassing or threatening officials of the Osun State Government.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan and signed by the group’s spokesperson, Adenike Ajanlekoko, the group described the claims, attributed to aides of Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke, as reckless, irresponsible and unsupported by facts or law.
According to the SWYA, the Nigeria Police Force is constitutionally and statutorily empowered to investigate alleged crimes and suspicious activities. Citing provisions of the Police Act, 2020, particularly Section 31, the alliance noted that the police are authourised to question persons of interest, invite suspects, conduct searches where necessary, and effect arrests strictly in line with due process.
“The purpose of these powers is to establish facts, identify offenders, gather evidence and prosecute crimes, all in the interest of protecting lives and property,” the statement said.
The group further referenced recent internal policy directives within the Nigeria Police Force that emphasise investigation before arrest, which it said underscores the commitment of the police leadership to professionalism, restraint and respect for citizens’ fundamental rights.
The SWYA also defended the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, describing him as a seasoned and disciplined officer with a record of professionalism. The alliance stated that at no time has the commissioner threatened any individual or group in the lawful discharge of his duties, adding that claims to the contrary amount to a deliberate misrepresentation of both his character and the operations of the Osun State Police Command.
Challenging the aides of Governor Adeleke, the alliance demanded the production of concrete and verifiable evidence to support allegations that police officers had threatened to “lock up” or harass state officials.
“In law and logic, he who alleges must prove,” the statement stressed, adding that those who claimed there were attempts to deploy the police to intimidate state media officials must provide specific facts, dates, names or official records to substantiate their assertions.
The group also criticised the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Mr Hezekiah Oladele Olabamiji, over comments alleging that the police were collaborating with unnamed politicians, particularly of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to intimidate Osun State officials. The SWYA described the allegation as unfounded, insisting that the Nigeria Police Force does not act on political instructions but on petitions, complaints, intelligence, and reasonable suspicion of crime.
“The police do not arrest without allegations, and the Osun State Commissioner of Police, as a thorough professional, will never intimidate or harass any citizen under any guise,” the alliance stated.
The SWYA concluded by urging political actors and government aides to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law and refrain from dragging the Nigeria Police Force into partisan narratives that could undermine public confidence in law enforcement.