The Osun State Police Command has warned politicians and other interest groups against any action capable of sabotaging the planned resumption of local government workers across the state on January 5, vowing to deal decisively with any attempt to breach peace and public order.
It was recalled that the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) had announced the decision to resume duties after an 11-month strike triggered by a crisis over control of local councils between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement issued on Friday, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, said the command had received credible intelligence indicating that some “unscrupulous politicians” were planning to disrupt the peaceful resumption of work by local government employees at various council secretariats.
He warned that the police would not tolerate any such plan, stressing that the command was fully prepared to maintain law and order across the state.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, mnips, cautioned that only bona fide staff of local government authorities would be allowed access to council secretariats.
“Any individual who is not a bona fide staff member of the local government authorities must refrain from approaching or loitering around the secretariats,” he said.
He added that police personnel had been directed to act firmly and professionally against anyone attempting to incite unrest or cause disturbances.
“The command will not permit miscreants to undermine the peace and tranquillity that have been diligently sustained in the state,” the statement said.
The police reassured residents of Osun State of their unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property, noting that officers would continue to discharge their constitutional duties with vigilance and professionalism.
Residents were urged to remain law-abiding, vigilant and to cooperate with security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s control room numbers: 08039537995 and 08123823981, or the Complaint Response Unit numbers: 08035143235, 08066286549 and 08030732461.
