2027: Zone 8 AIG, Police, APC Chair Rally Politicians Against Violence in Kwara

 

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 8 Headquarters, Lokoja, AIG Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin, has urged political parties and their supporters in Kwara State to shun hate campaigns, provocative rhetoric and activities capable of triggering violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Otimenyin spoke on Friday in Ilorin during an operational inspection tour of the Kwara State Police Command, where she stressed the importance of early communication with security agencies by political parties and groups planning rallies, meetings and other public activities.

She said political differences should not degenerate into quarrels or violence, urging stakeholders to conduct their campaigns responsibly and cooperate with the police to preserve the existing peace in the state.

“We are going to agree on that and we are going to ensure that there’s going to be peace during this campaign. We will not quarrel with each other over campaign issues,” the AIG said.

Otimenyin also warned political groups against making last-minute requests for security coverage or notifying the police at odd hours, saying adequate notice was necessary for effective security planning.

“Police are not magicians. Don’t come in the middle of the night. Let them be in and drop your request against 7 a.m. activities,” she said.

According to her, early notification would enable the police to determine possible clashes in the use of venues and advise groups appropriately where different political activities are scheduled to hold at the same location.

“If another one has already booked that same venue and you are using the same venue, police will be able to advise that those consultations are not possible or you use with A, while the other one uses with B,” she said.

The AIG urged political actors, community leaders and residents to maintain open communication with the police throughout the political period, stressing that proactive engagement would help prevent avoidable security challenges.

Also speaking during the inspection, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, called on content creators, journalists and other stakeholders to deploy their platforms in support of the fight against terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

Ojo said information supplied by members of the public, particularly social media content creators, had assisted security agencies in tracking suspected criminals and preventing crime.

“Some people are doing a very great job. Many content creators have given me information that has helped us,” he said.

The commissioner recalled an instance where a content creator obtained and circulated the photograph of a suspected criminal linked to killings in Niger State, noting that the information subsequently assisted security operatives in tracking the suspect.

He urged other content creators to emulate such efforts by promptly sharing credible information relating to criminal activities with the police and other security agencies.

Ojo also cautioned against politicising security matters, saying terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes should be treated as collective threats requiring the cooperation of all stakeholders.

“We cannot put politics into security issues. All of us must join together and fight this evil,” he said.

He called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, government institutions, traditional rulers, community leaders, the media and residents, stressing that the responsibility for maintaining security should not be left to the police alone.

The APC Chairman in Kwara State, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, on his part, assured the AIG that the ruling party would continue to promote peace, saying violence would serve no useful purpose ahead of the 2027 elections.

Fagbemi, who spoke at the Police Officers’ Mess in Ilorin during the AIG’s visit, described politicians and security agencies as members of one family and commended security personnel for their efforts in maintaining peace in the state.

“Security, you know us, you know about what you do. All of us are one family,” he said.

The APC chairman said it was in the interest of the ruling party and the people of the state to ensure that the political process remained peaceful.

“It is in our best interest as the ruling party to have peace. And that is what we are doing. We hope, no matter what it takes, we will continue to do this,” Fagbemi said.

He warned politicians against involving young people and students in activities capable of exposing them to violence, saying the future of the younger generation should not be sacrificed for political interests.

“We don’t want violence. We don’t know who it will affect. And as our children that are in the institutions, we want them to succeed. We will not be part of parties that will be involving them in any unfruitful assignments,” he said.

Fagbemi urged political parties to concentrate on presenting their programmes and persuading voters instead of engaging in confrontation, saying elections should be about convincing the electorate with credible ideas.

“Whoever destiny brings to rule, whether it is people that we want to appeal to, let us tell them what we have in store for them. What we are going to do, that is what we require,” he said.

Other politicians and stakeholders at the engagement also called for neutrality, professionalism and adequate security during the 2027 electoral process.

The inspection tour by the Zone 8 AIG was aimed at assessing operational readiness, strengthening coordination and reviewing security arrangements in Kwara State ahead of the 2027 elections.