Barely a week after the August 15 governorship election, the Nigeria Police Force has posted Ibrahim Zungura as the new Commissioner of Police in Osun State.
Zungura replaces Ibrahim Gotan, whose tenure as the state police commissioner was marked by controversy, particularly amid heightened political tensions and security concerns surrounding the election.
The new police commissioner assumed duty against the backdrop of calls for improved security, reconciliation and the restoration of public confidence in the police.
Zungura, accompanied by senior officers of the state command, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Monday, where discussions centred on post-election security, peace and police-community relations.
Speaking during the meeting, Zungura pledged to work with the state government and other stakeholders to maintain peace and stability, assuring residents that he would uphold fairness and impartiality in policing.
“I promise to work with the state government for peace and stability of the state. I will be fair to all and I will prove my commitment in the next few weeks. Osun is a peaceful state and we will work to address all outstanding issues,” he said.
Adeleke, who was declared winner of the August 15 poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission, told the new CP that Osun had experienced turbulent political and security situations and that peace had yet to be fully restored after the election.
The governor drew particular attention to recent killings in Ikire, alleging that a police operation led to the deaths of two people.
He also said the Divisional Police Officer in the area had been “fingered” in the incident and called for immediate disciplinary action against the officer.
“Based on all details of the attacks, I request immediate commencement of disciplinary action against the DPO. He has become a threat to the people he was posted to protect,” Adeleke said.
The governor said his administration was already working towards post-election peace and reconciliation, adding that he had extended an olive branch to political actors across the state.
However, Adeleke expressed concern about the deteriorating relationship between the police and residents, saying public confidence in the force had fallen considerably.
“You are posted to Osun at a very auspicious time. The police-civilian relationship is at the lowest ebb. The trust level is very disturbing,” he said.
Adeleke subsequently outlined five key areas he expected the new commissioner to address as part of efforts to restore peace and rebuild confidence in the police.
He urged Zungura to prioritise rebuilding public trust by addressing conduct within the command that had created the impression that the police were partisan or hostile to residents.
“Let us rebuild public trust in the police. You must make deliberate efforts to remove many areas of current police conduct that paints it as partisan and anti-people,” the governor said.
He also called for stronger cooperation between the state government and the police command, stressing that his administration was not seeking preferential treatment but impartial enforcement of the law.
“Let's strengthen the closer working relationship between the state government and the state police command. The government under my watch seeks no favour other than fair policing. Your partnership with our government for rule of law is solicited,” Adeleke said.
The governor further demanded a reorganisation of the internal operations of the Osun State Police Command, alleging that some operational units had been compromised.
According to him, certain police formations had become viewed by residents as a “home base of APC thugs”, a perception he said must be urgently addressed.
“There is a need to dissolve many police operational units because they have been compromised,” Adeleke said.
The governor’s demands come as the state begins to grapple with the political and security aftermath of the governorship election, which was won by Adeleke with 511,067 votes against the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.
The new police leadership is expected to play a central role in maintaining peace, preventing post-election violence and rebuilding confidence in the security architecture of the state.
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