Fear has gripped Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with residents and even politicians avoiding caps, T-shirts and other items bearing party colours or insignia amid a wave of politically motivated killings.

The Nigeria Police Force documented at least 30 politically motivated killings in the state.

The rising violence has heightened fears among residents, many of whom now consider openly identifying with political parties a security risk.

The election is expected to be a three-way contest involving the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Party candidate, Najeem Salaam.

Amid the tension, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, announced on Friday that at least four police officers would be deployed in each polling unit across the state.

Disu described the deployment as one of the largest security operations ever undertaken in Osun, as security agencies move to prevent further violence before and during the election.

Findings by Sunday PUNCH showed that the heightened security presence had done little to completely dispel anxiety in some parts of the state, with residents wary of being mistaken for supporters of rival political parties.

The situation has been further heightened by the movement of security personnel, as well as the convoys of some APC governors and other political officeholders.

The governors of Edo and Kogi states, Monday Okpebholo and Usman Ododo, arrived in Osun on Wednesday and have since been moving around the state in long convoys.

Speaking with one of our correspondents, the Chairman of the Osun State Civil Societies Coalition, Waheed Lawal, said the atmosphere remained tense because of the violence and what he described as the perceived bias of security agencies.

He alleged that some political actors were deliberately creating fear to discourage voters from turning out on election day, while urging the security agencies to remain neutral before, during and after the poll.

“There is tension and people are currently afraid because of the violence here and there, and because of what the security agencies are doing, especially the police. People have lost confidence in them.

“Some of the violence is cult-related, but you can hardly differentiate between political and cult killings now because these cultists have integrated themselves into politics. Some belong to the ruling party, while others belong to the Accord Party.

“The political actors are trying to create an atmosphere where people will be afraid to come out and vote, but people are now determined to vote,” Lawal said.

Similarly, the Executive Director of the Socio-Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy, Emmanuel Olowu, said the political tension was fuelled by the desperation of political actors to win power by all means.

Although he acknowledged that the removal of the former Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, had reduced agitation, Olowu said apprehension remained, particularly in the Ijesa area.

“There is tension; people are afraid, and the political attacks have not stopped. People are being killed, and the police are perceived to be biased. We hope the police will be able to restore people’s confidence by acting professionally and maintaining neutrality,” he said.

The Executive Director of the World Institute for Peace, Lamina Kamiludeen, said the violence had claimed at least 14 lives between January and August, while the police figure put the number of politically motivated killings at 30.

He warned that the violence could continue after the election, urging whoever emerges victorious to tackle cultism and political thuggery.

He said, “Between January and August this year, no fewer than 14 people have been killed, and it is disheartening. We condemn the political killings.

“Politicians should refrain from sponsoring political thugs. They are the ones causing violence without considering the future implications of their actions. Political thuggery has become a menace in Osun.

“Our observation is that no one has a monopoly of violence in the coming election. Politicians, especially those in the APC and the Accord Party, have recruited and armed cultists as political thugs. After the election, the weapons and other materials given to them to perpetrate violence cannot simply be withdrawn. Whoever wins the election should be prepared to tackle cult-related attacks.”

Kamiludeen, however, said the tension had eased compared with previous weeks.

“Currently, there is not much panic compared to the past weeks. The tension is now about 25 per cent. It reduced after the IG came to Osun. The police and other security agencies should remain at alert. They should not relax or be carried away. They should be searching tinted-glass vehicles from now until after the election,” he said.

The Accord Party Chairman in the state, Pastor Victor Akande, also acknowledged the tense political atmosphere but expressed optimism that normalcy would return before election day.

“There is certainly some tension in the state, but we are hopeful that the atmosphere will improve before the election with the deployment of adequate security personnel. As you know, the people of Osun State are Omoluabi and have consistently conducted themselves peacefully. We urge everyone to remain calm, law-abiding and committed to sustaining the state’s tradition of peaceful coexistence,” he said.

However, the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC, Kola Olabisi, dismissed reports of tension within the party and expressed confidence in the police.

“There’s no tension in our party. Oyebamiji has been carrying his campaign train to all the nooks and crannies of the state, where his supporters and members of the party lean round him as ants do to sugar, to show you the level of his popularity.

“It is the other party that is fidgeting for fear of imminent loss of the election, and that’s why they have been promoting acts of thuggery all over the place. But we have confidence in the capability and ability of the Nigeria Police officers to contain any act of criminality that may be injected by disgruntled elements before and during the election.

“There is a heavy presence of police in the state who will monitor to ensure that they keep the peace during the election. As for us, all is well.”

The killings recorded across the state have included the death of an APC supporter and former unit chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Kazeem Oyewole, who was killed at Orita Elelede in Osogbo in January by thugs allegedly working for the Accord Party.

On May 8, the son of the Accord Party Women Leader in Irewole Local Government Area, Kolade Eluyera, was killed in Ikire.

Two persons said to be members of the Accord Party were also killed in Akoda and Owode-Ede on June 9.

A violent attack on June 21 claimed the life of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade, who was shot in Ilobu, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area. The boy was reportedly struck by a bullet intended for a man wearing an Accord Party face cap.

Similarly, an Accord Party member, Ajayi Rogba, was killed in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area, on June 23, while an APC member, Taofeeq Mustapha, was shot dead by gunmen on June 27 for allegedly wearing a cap bearing the inscription “AMBO.”

A 19-year-old, Timilehin Oni, was also shot dead on July 6 in the Ijebu-Jesa area of the state, while Ibrahim was killed on July 26 in the Atelewo area of Osogbo.

On July 15, political thugs suspected to be supporters of the Accord Party reportedly stormed the Egbatedo area of Osogbo, killing two persons, Lateef Adelodun, popularly known as Lexy, and Waheed Adigun.

Other politically related fatalities recorded in the state include Aderombi Abass, Ganiyu Gele, Wole Vulcaniser, Rafiu Quadri Abiodun and Elijah Baba Ewe.

A report by the non-governmental and non-partisan organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative, stated that 56 election-related violent incidents resulting in 14 fatalities had been recorded in Osun over the past 12 months.

Presenting the report during an election summit in Osogbo on July 13, KDI said Osogbo accounted for 23 of the 56 recorded incidents and nine of the 14 deaths.

With the police putting the number of politically motivated killings at 30, the security situation has become one of the major concerns surrounding Saturday’s governorship election. (Sunday PUNCH)