A coalition of civil society and student organizations on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, against the rising wave of political violence and killings in the state, while also passing a vote of confidence in the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan.

The coalition, operating under the umbrella of the Osun Youth and Students’ Coalition Network (OYSCN) and comprising the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Association of Colleges of Education Students (NACES), Osun Youth Network, and other groups, expressed concern over the escalating political tension ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

Thousands of protesters marched through major streets of Osogbo, from popular Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, MDS Road, Olaiya Junction, and Oke-Baale Roundabout, calling for an end to political violence and urging stakeholders to support security agencies in maintaining peace and order across the state.

The demonstrators condemned what they described as attempts to politicise security issues and called on the Osun State Government to collaborate with law enforcement agencies rather than engage in actions capable of undermining security operations.

They also decried the killing of Ezekiel Olapade in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, alongside other recent incidents of violence, urging the police to intensify efforts to apprehend and prosecute those responsible.

Addressing journalists during the protest, the spokesperson for the coalition and Executive Director of the World Institute for Peace (WIP), Mr. Lamina Omotoyosi, called on the state government to provide greater support for security agencies in their fight against kidnapping, cultism, and political thuggery.

He demanded that the state government should deployment of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) purcahed by the previous administration and provide additional patrol vehicles, motorcycles, and other logistics necessary for effective crime prevention and response.

Omotoyosi commended CP Ibrahim Gotan for what he described as professional leadership and commitment to combating crime in the state despite mounting political pressure.

“We hereby pass a vote of confidence in the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, for his outstanding leadership, professionalism, and dedication to maintaining law and order in Osun State”.

“We are calling for an immediate end to political violence in Osun State and across Nigeria, while demanding the arrest and prosecution of all suspected political thugs with pending criminal allegations before the forthcoming governorship election.

“We have noticed the activities of the CP Ibrahim Gotan and his refusal to bow to political pressure regarding some unresolved criminal cases that involved some individuals which has attracted blackmail from the state government, one of such instance was the last year kiling of Hon Remi Abbas in Irewole that involved some political gladiators.”

“A video also sufaced recently where a wanted notorious political thug mounted the government house gate clearing some suspected hoodlums to gain entrance to the government house, these and many others are instances that we urge the Inspector General of police to beep search light on. In recent time, CP Gotan has successfully arrested some political thugs and cultists that appeared untouchable in the past which has sustained relative peace in the state.”

“It is a dangerous trend when the state government in the name of politics persistently undermine the constitutional responsibility of state apratus particularly the police in performing their lawful duty, that state has tendency of gravitating towards anarchy especially in this era of insurgency and banditary, that must not happened in Osun.”

“We therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunde Disu, to ensure thorough investigations into allegations of criminal activities linked to political actors hiding in government facilities, stressing that anyone found culpable should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“We demand the arrest and prosecution of all wanted criminal suspects in Osun State and call for comprehensive investigations into recent incidents of political violence. Those found responsible should face justice irrespective of their political or social affiliations,” Omotoyosi stated.

He further alleged that attempts to investigate some unresolved criminal cases had attracted criticism and political attacks against the police leadership in the state.

The protesters also urged the Commissioner of Police to strengthen community policing efforts by holding regular security meetings with traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders across the state.