News

Osun election: Police arrest officer for ‘accidentally’ discharging tear gas

Spread the love

The Osun state police command says it has arrested an officer captured in viral video discharging tear gas during Saturday’s governorship election.

The incident took place in Modakeke, Ife East LGA of the state.

A narrator a viral video on social media, speaking Yoruba alleged that the police fired tear gas at a polling unit without provocation.

Reacting in a statement on X, the Osun police command said the incident took place at the registration area centre (RAC), and not a polling unit.

The command said the officer was deployed to the RAC, adding that the tear gas discharge is being investigated.

“The attention of the Osun State Police Command has been drawn to reports and videos circulating on social media concerning an incident alleged to have occurred in Modakeke Ward 10, Ife East Local Government Area where an officer posted to Registration Area Centre (RAC) accidentally discharged his tear gas,” the statement reads.

“The Command wishes to clarify that the incident did not take place at any polling unit. It occurred at the Registration Area Centre (RAC) and was the result of negligence on the part of an officer who was attempting to ease himself.

“This conduct is highly condemnable and falls far below the standard expected of an officer of the Nigeria Police Force.

“The officer involved has been immediately apprehended. A thorough investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident and to establish whether there were any other motives behind the action.”

The command said police officers deployed for election duty are not permitted to carry arms within a specified radius of polling units.

The police said claims that the incident was intended to prevent eligible voters from exercising their franchise are “false and misleading”.

The command apologised to election stakeholders and citizens affected or inconvenienced by the incident.