Group sounds warning on escalating sectarian clashes in Osun state

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The World Institute for Peace has raised the alarm over rising political violence in Osun State and other parts of Nigeria, warning that the deteriorating security situation could degenerate into a state of emergency if security agencies fail to act decisively before the forthcoming governorship election.

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The group’s Executive Director, Lamina Omotoyosi, sounded the alarm on Monday in Abuja while submitting petitions to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services and the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, urging them to take urgent steps to rein in political thuggery across the country.

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He said the petitions were necessitated by growing concerns over a fresh wave of politically motivated violence sweeping through Osun State, where, he said, several persons had been murdered in recent months in circumstances linked to political rivalry.

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“If the political thuggery that is going on or that is rocking our dear state Osun, if the security agencies refuse to put an end to it, I want to tell you that it may resort to a kind of state of emergency,” he warned.

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He linked the current crisis in Osun to a broader national pattern of politician-sponsored violence, citing conflicts in Borno, Adamawa and Kebbi states as examples of how unchecked thuggery had fuelled deeper instability across the country.

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“The political violence emanates from the manner in which our politicians from various political parties have been sponsoring political thugs across the nation. So this also is happening in Osun,” he said.

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The peace advocate recalled that his organisation had raised similar concerns as far back as 2023, submitting letters to then President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and other security chiefs, warning of the consequences of allowing political thuggery to go unchecked.

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“We submitted that letter on the 23rd of February 2023 and what we said then is now replicating itself in Osun whereby some people have lost their loved ones to political thuggery in recent times,” he said.

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He noted that in 2022, political violence in Osun claimed more than 30 lives, a tragedy he said appeared to be repeating itself ahead of the coming election cycle.

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Omotoyosi expressed particular concern that the killings could trigger a cycle of retaliatory violence, further inflaming tensions in the state and making a free and fair election nearly impossible.

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“There were cases of violent crime whereby some people were murdered brutally in recent times, and if this persists, there will be a kind of replication whereby some people who lost their loved ones want to retaliate,” he warned.

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He called on the security agencies to ensure that all unsolved violent crime cases connected to political activity were urgently investigated and that perpetrators were brought to justice.

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“All the solved criminal cases that have to do with serious violent crimes such as murder, kidnapping and terrorism — the security agencies should take note and put more effort in making sure that all the culprits are brought to book,” he said.

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Omotoyosi also appealed directly to politicians across party lines to renounce violence and respect the rule of law in the interest of the country’s democracy.

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“I want to advise the politicians across the political parties in our dear country to please not use thuggery as a tool promoting political violence. They should respect the rule of law and let peace reign,” he said.

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The group said its petitions were not limited to the Osun situation but addressed the wider challenge of political violence nationwide, particularly with the 2027 general elections which are in a few months away.

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Also speaking, Director, Human Rights and Safety Department of League of Peace Ambassadors, Humanity and Human Rights Advocates, Adeniyi Ayomide said democracy can only flourish in an atmosphere where the rule of law is respected, justice is administered without fear or favour, and citizens are free to exercise their democratic rights without intimidation or violence.

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He expressed confidence that timely intervention by security agencies, supported by relevant national and international stakeholders, would significantly contribute to the prevention of violence and the conduct of a peaceful, free, fair, and credible governorship election in Osun State.

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Fourteen political parties and their candidates have been cleared by INEC to participate in the election.

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