Osun Resident Claims Armed Men Seen With Asiri Eniba Are Private Guards, Not Police

By Omidiran Seun 

A Facebook user, Oyediran Adebayo, has said the armed men seen with the popular National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, leader in Osun State, Asiri Eniba, are licensed private security guards and not police operatives.

Reacting on Facebook, Adebayo noted that some political leaders and celebrities, including musician Davido, have used similar private guards in the past.

Another Facebook user, Oluwasegun Ajibola Fawale, also claimed the men wore the same uniform as those seen with an Accord Party chieftain, Apata, and said he should be asked to disclose their identity.

The controversy began after Hezekiah Bamiji Oladele, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Ademola Adeleke, posted photographs alleging that operatives of the Osun State Police Command were escorting political thugs linked to the All Progressives Congress, APC, to cause mayhem in major motor parks in the state capital.

In the post, where he tagged the Police Command and its spokesperson, Oladele wrote: “This is what Osun State Police Command has been reduced to under the watch of Mr. Ibrahim Gottan, Osun State Police Commissioner. The command’s men are seen here leading Osun APC thugs around to cause mayhem in major motor parks in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Monday.”

Reacting in the comment section, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, faulted the claim and challenged Oladele to prove that the men in black uniforms were police officers.

“How are those ones police officers? You will prove beyond reasonable doubt when it’s time,” Ojelabi wrote.

In a separate reply to another commenter, Sola Isola, the PPRO questioned the assumption that anyone dressed in black should be regarded as a policeman.

“You are expected to know better, so any uniformed man on black is a police officer right? Can you point out one thing to show they are policemen? This is not intimidation guy,” he added.

Oladele, however, expressed surprise at the denial, questioning how individuals could openly display sophisticated firearms in public without the knowledge of the police.

“So, you are telling me these are not policemen and they are displaying such sophisticated firearms with such a dress in public glare in a state where we have a police commissioner? I expect you to do better. Ojelabi, are you saying Osun Police were on unannounced holiday today?” he responded.

The exchange triggered mixed reactions.

One user, Temitope Boluwaji, said the police could resolve the matter by arresting Asiri Eniba to disclose the identity of his escorts.

Another commenter, Oluniyi Hisamotu McMalaga, disagreed with the police spokesman, arguing that one of the armed men appeared to be wearing police khaki.

Similarly, Arakunrin Bolanle Bamidele Adewuyi accused the PPRO of threatening critics instead of addressing the security breach, while Olabode Arimi called on the Command to act fairly and without political bias.

Others, however, faulted Oladele’s allegation.