Osun election security has been placed under the command of DIG Ishaku Mohammed as the Nigeria Police Force prepares for the August 15, 2026, governorship election, with Amotekun, vigilantes, and local hunters barred from election duties.
The Osun election security operation has been placed under the leadership of Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ishyaku Mohammed ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election, as the Nigeria Police Force moves to tighten security across the state.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has deployed Mohammed, the DIG in charge of the Department of Operations, to coordinate security arrangements for the poll. Amotekun, vigilante groups, local hunters and other non-state security outfits have also been barred from carrying out election security duties.
The directive comes as political tension remains high in parts of Osun, with the police saying the priority is to ensure voters can participate in the election without intimidation or violence.
Osun Election Security Gets New Command Structure
The Nigeria Police Force began moving personnel into Osun ahead of the election in response to concerns about security and trust in the existing command structure.
Disu said an Electoral Commissioner of Police and an Assistant Inspector-General of Police were deployed to the state ahead of schedule following complaints about the local police leadership.
The IGP also announced the deployment of DIG Ishyaku Mohammed to take overall responsibility for operational security during the election. He will be supported by an AIG and eight Commissioners of Police, with each of the state’s eight police area commands assigned a CP.
“We deployed to Osun earlier. Our teams have moved into Osun early, and we have been responsive to the situations as they occur,” Disu said.
The security plan covers all 30 local government areas, 332 wards and 3,673 polling units in the state. Police said at least four officers, supported by personnel from other constitutionally recognised security agencies, will be stationed at each polling unit.
Osun Election Security Bars Amotekun And Vigilantes
The police have issued a separate directive stating that only constitutionally recognised security agencies will be allowed to perform election security duties before, during and after the poll.
The Western Nigeria security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, vigilante groups, neighbourhood watch outfits, local hunters, political organisations and other quasi-security bodies have been excluded.
According to the directive issued through the AIG in charge of Zone 11 Headquarters in Osogbo, such groups are not authorised to provide security, control crowds or interfere with the electoral process.
“The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other constitutionally recognised security agencies, will be solely responsible for the provision of security before, during and after the election,” the AIG stated.
The police also warned that all personnel deployed for election duties must be properly identified and wear approved uniforms.
Anyone found carrying out unauthorised security duties or attempting to intimidate voters, electoral officials or other participants will face legal action, the police said.
Police Move Against Violence Ahead Of Osun Election
The security preparations come after months of political tension and reports of clashes and killings in different parts of Osun.
During a visit to Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Government House in Osogbo, Disu said the police were paying close attention to the security situation ahead of the election.
“I’m here because of the situation Osun State is turning into,” the IGP said, stressing that the police would not allow violence to overshadow the election.
He said the police had identified groups and individuals linked to acts of violence and instructed the Commissioner of Police to take action against anyone causing trouble.
“We’ll go after each and every one who has committed any crime in this state,” Disu said.
The IGP also reminded political actors and residents that the election should not be treated as a conflict.“This is an election; it is not a war,” he said.
To reduce the possibility of officers being influenced at the local level, senior officers assigned to local government areas will reportedly not know their final postings until shortly before voting begins.
Neutrality At The Centre Of Osun Election Security
Disu has also told officers deployed for the election to remain politically neutral. The IGP said the police have no political allegiance other than to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and instructed personnel to maintain professional neutrality throughout the exercise.
The Electoral Commissioner of Police overseeing the election also warned that anyone found attempting to compromise the credibility of the poll would face consequences, regardless of whether the person is a police officer or a political actor.
The CP further directed that people arrested for electoral offences during and after the election would be transferred to Abuja for prosecution.“Anybody arrested will be taken to Abuja. That’s the order,” he said.
Why Amotekun Is Excluded From Osun Election Security
The decision to keep Amotekun, vigilantes and other non-state actors away from election duties has attracted attention in the state.
Police authorities said the restriction is based on the legal framework governing election security, which places responsibility for protecting the electoral process on constitutionally recognised security agencies.
The police also argue that limiting election security to recognised agencies will reduce the risk of partisan involvement, clashes between different security outfits and confusion over who has operational authority.
The AIG stressed that maintaining peace and respect for the rule of law would be important throughout the election period.
The state government has also been involved in the security discussions. DIG Adegoke Fayoade, who was separately deployed by the IGP, met with Governor Adeleke to deliver operational directives and review recent incidents of political violence.
What To Expect From Osun Election Security
With DIG Ishyaku Mohammed coordinating operations, thousands of police officers and personnel from other recognised security agencies are expected to be deployed across Osun for the August 15 election.
The police say the main objective is to ensure that voters can reach polling units, cast their ballots and return home without intimidation or violence.
Security personnel have also been trained to deal with vote-buying and vote-selling. The police said officers would take action against anyone caught attempting to influence the election through financial inducements.
As Osun heads to the polls, the security command is expected to remain centralised, with the police insisting that officers will operate professionally and without political bias.
For voters, the priority is straightforward: a peaceful election in which every eligible citizen can vote without fear.
