The Osun State Police Command has drafted armed security personnel to beef up security in all the 30 Local Governments and area councils of the state.
The police command took the step to avert any possible clash between members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the councils.
According to reports, the two parties have continued to lay claims to the control of the councils following the Court of Appeal ruling on Friday.
It was gathered that some APC local government chairmen were learnt to have resumed in most councils’ secretariats in the state on Monday.
Informed security sources revealed that the deployment of police personnel followed an intelligence report from some quarters.
The report allegedly revealed that some sympathisers loyal to the APC and the PDP were poised for a showdown following last Friday’s judgment on the disputes over which party controls the local government issues.
The Hope’s correspondent saw a heavy armed police presence at different secretariats keeping eyes on the movement of people around the council’s areas.
At some local government headquarters like Olorunda, Osogbo, Egbedore, Boluwaduro, Irepodun, Oriade and Ila, operatives from mobile and tactical squads are visibly seen patrolling around.
Some officers of the Nigerian Police Force and officers of the Nigeria security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC were seen manning the places to ensure peace and order.
One of the Police officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed some suspected hoodlums initially came out but quickly retreated because of the presence of the law enforcement personnel.
“We were dispatched to this place to maintain peace and orderliness and to ensure, there is no pandemonium in the council. A group of miscreants and hoodlums was seen very early on Monday morning, but immediately, they saw policemen on the ground, they ran away,” he said.
Speaking on the deployment of the personnel, Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in the state, Mr. Abiodun Ojelabi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police DSP explained that their presence was to maintain peace in all parts of the state.
“Our duty is to provide security to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.
“We are not into politics; we are just to ensure safety. Our deployment has been done and I urge the people of Osun State to go about their businesses,” Ojelabi said.
