By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi
The Osun State Police Command has arrested a serving member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries allegedly camped at his residence in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state.
The arrests were made in the early hours of Saturday as security agencies intensified operations to prevent activities capable of disrupting the governorship election holding across the state.
Inaolaji, who represents the Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was reportedly arrested during a police operation at his residence, where the 146 suspects were also apprehended.
More than 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were reportedly recovered during the operation.
A video clip obtained after the arrest showed the lawmaker making a preliminary statement in which he identified himself and allegedly said he facilitated the movement of the 146 suspects into Osun from neighbouring states to participate in the governorship election.
However, the allegation remains subject to investigation, and the lawmaker’s preliminary statement could not independently establish the circumstances surrounding the presence of the suspects at his residence.
Confirming the arrest, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said Inaolaji was arrested in the early hours of Saturday.
Ojelabi said the operation was conducted by the FBI IRT as part of intensified security measures to check activities capable of undermining the credibility and peaceful conduct of the election.
He said the command was investigating the circumstances surrounding the movement of the suspects into the state and the recovery of the voter cards.
In a related operation in Ede, police operatives arrested another 33 suspected electoral mercenaries at Babs Hotel, located behind the State High Court.
The suspects comprised 30 males and three females and were arrested by operatives of the Anti-Robbery Section and the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).
According to the police, preliminary investigation showed that the suspects were allegedly brought into Osun from Ondo State in connection with unlawful electoral activities.
Four voter cards were reportedly recovered from the suspects and taken as exhibits.
The police said the suspects, during preliminary questioning, claimed that an unidentified politician recruited them and promised to pay them for participating in the election.
Investigators are expected to establish the identity of the alleged recruiter, the purpose for which the suspects were brought into the state and whether the operation was connected to any political party or candidate.
The arrests came amid heightened security concerns across Osun as voters began casting their ballots in the keenly contested governorship election on Saturday.
The police said investigations into the two incidents were ongoing, with the suspects expected to face appropriate legal action if found to have committed offences.
The command also urged residents to remain calm and report suspicious movements or activities to security agencies as voting and collation continue across the state.
