The Surveillance Tactical Squad inaugurated by the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode has been disbanded amid alleged culpability in the killing of some members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who were said to be sharing election money during last month’s governorship election in the state.
A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police (CP) Olawale Olokode had ordered the Immediate disbandment of the squad.
According to her: “the dissolution is coming on the heels of complaints of unprofessional conduct exhibited by the personnel of the squad.
“The dissolution is with immediate effect and all personnel attached to the squad are to report to the State Headquarters for redeployment, while investigation has commenced at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).”
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, has been urged to investigate CSP Adekunle Omoyele, (the head of the disbanded squad), the Chief Security Officer designate to the Osun State governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and other team members before they resume duty.
A civil society organisation under the aegis of The Osun Masterminds (TOM) noted that reports of the #EndSARS panel presided over by retired Justice Akin Oladimeji indicted Omoyele for human rights abuse and extra-judicial killings; recommendations that were not considered until they were redeployed.
The Executive Director of TOM, who was also a member of Osun #EndSARS Panel, Dr Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, maintained that of five policemen deployed by IGP in a letter dated 3rd August 2022, with Ref.CH52360/ FHQ Abuja vol.29/40, CSP Omoyele has a lot of human rights abuse and extra-judicial killings cases.
He said: “Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba must reconsider the deployment of CSP Omoyele Adekunle and other officers in the security team of Senator Adeleke because #EndSARS Panel indicted two of them for human rights abuse and extra-judicial killings cases.
“We demand that the deployed officers be thoroughly examined. A legally set up judicial panel indicted some individuals, including the designated Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the governor-elect, for inactions and infractions and also recommended that some of them be demoted, while others should face the wrath of the law.
“While action has not been taken and those with various indictments hanging on their necks suddenly get promoted to guide the governor-elect of the state, then everyone around the governor, when sworn-in, is not safe.” he started.