Osun Residents Lament Police Harassment, Intimidation

Residents of Iwo in Osun State have accused some police officers attached to the Iwo Area Police Command of harassment, intimidation and unprofessional conduct.

The residents lamented that the Iwo Area Police command has begun to lose its core mandate of establishment, and become a torn in their flesh, perpetrating unlawful brutality. 

This was contained in a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) dated August 22, 2022, and signed by Chief Abdulfatai Abdulsalam, a human right lawyer in Osun. 

In the petition, Abdulsalam requested the IGP to order an investigation into the alleged unprofessional conduct of some police officers attached to Iwo Area Police Command, Osun, led by ACP Omololu Vaughan, the Area Commander, Iwo command.  

"The conducts of some officers over the unlawful harassment and intimidation of residents of Iwo, especially one Joseph Sola whose fundamental human rights was violated and abused by one, ASP Michael Daramola, at Iwo Area Command, cannot be mentioned."

Abdulsalam said the humiliation and assault of Sola was a violation of his fundamental human rights leading to injuries he sustained from the Area Command in Iwo.  

The human rights lawyer said several attempts to get the issue of such police harassment and brutality in Iwo Area Command had proved abortive.

Abdulsalam, however, called on the IGP to expedite action towards ensuring that the image of the Nigerian Police is not tarnished.

He also wanted the ugly conduct to get the due attention of the necessary authorities to forestall any breakdown of laws and order.

Responding, the Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, said the situation would be addressed and promised the human rights lawyer of ensuring that the officers' concerns are thoroughly checked with decisive action taken against them.  

Opalola however, said the police would continue to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the state and also promised to deal with any criminal elements that planned to truncate the peace of the state.