OSOGBO, NIGERIA — Ahead of the highly anticipated Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu has ordered the immediate deployment of Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Ishyaku Mohammed to Osogbo to oversee and coordinate all security operations across the state.

The high-level deployment forms part of the Nigeria Police Force’s strategy to prevent electoral violence, guarantee voter safety, and safeguard officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across all 30 local government areas.



Operational Structure and Command Strategy

Under the operational blueprint announced by the Force Headquarters, DIG Ishyaku Mohammed will lead the police component of election security and coordinate inter-agency operational strategies alongside the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

To ensure thorough coverage across Osun State, DIG Mohammed will be supported by senior supervisory commanders, including Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs). These officers have been strategically assigned to monitor and manage security across the state’s three senatorial districts: Osun Central, Osun East, and Osun West.

The multi-layered deployment comprises thousands of conventional police personnel alongside elite tactical formations. These specialized units include the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Anti-Terrorism Squad, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal - Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) unit. Armed motorized patrols, aerial surveillance units, and intelligence-led tactical squads have also been deployed to secure critical infrastructure, polling units, collation centers, and entry points into Osun State.



Bans on VIP Escorts and Quasi-Security Outfits

In a decisive effort to prevent voter intimidation and ensure a level playing field, the IGP reiterated a total ban on armed security aides, VIP escorts, and unauthorized armed personnel at polling units and collation centers on election day.

Furthermore, state-established security outfits, local vigilante groups, and private security organizations are strictly prohibited from participating in election duties. Police authorities stressed that only accredited personnel from statutory federal security agencies within the ICCES framework will be permitted to perform security roles on election day.

Political actors, party agents, and potential troublemakers were warned against ballot snatching, vote-buying, voter suppression, or political thuggery, with the force pledging that offenders will face immediate arrest and prosecution under the Electoral Act.



Restoring Public Confidence Ahead of the Ballot

The deployment comes amid rising political tensions and demands from key political stakeholders for absolute neutrality and firm security guarantees. In recent days, campaign teams and civil society groups had called on police leadership to ensure an impartial voting environment free of intimidation.

Reassuring the electorate, civil society organizations, accredited observers, and international monitors, police authorities emphasized that all deployed personnel have been briefed to adhere strictly to professional standards, human rights protocols, and electoral rules. Residents of Osun State have been urged to turn out en masse on Saturday to exercise their democratic franchise peacefully, assured that comprehensive security measures are fully active across the state.