TICC commends Nigerian Navy over professionalism ahead of governorship election

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Navy, for its professionalism and neutrality in handling security matters since the commencement of the Osun governorship election campaigns.

The council, in a statement by its spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, on Friday, said the Navy had been proactive in arresting troublemakers regardless of their political affiliations.

However, the council condemned the alleged release of an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, Babatunde Festus Komolafe, who is also the party’s House of Assembly candidate for Atakumosa East/West Local Government Area, after he was allegedly arrested with a gun.

According to Olajengbesi, Komolafe was allegedly apprehended by the Nigerian Navy in his hometown, Ifewara, on Thursday while allegedly in possession of a gun.

He said that during a routine search conducted by Navy personnel, the APC candidate was arrested alongside his supporters while travelling in a campaign vehicle reportedly belonging to the party, after a gun was allegedly discovered in the vehicle.

“The arrest is no secret, as a video showing the suspects has since gone viral and attracted public outrage. However, we gathered reliably that the arrested APC candidate and his co-perpetrators were immediately released following pressure from APC top officials,” he said.

The TICC said the alleged release of a suspect who was reportedly caught with an unauthorised firearm was unacceptable and could send the wrong signal to political actors involved in violence.

Olajengbesi called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate the matter and ensure that the suspects were dealt with according to the law, stressing that no politician was above the law and no political thug should be released to continue fomenting trouble.