The Osun State Police Command has arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and five others during an operation at a property linked to him in Osogbo.

The police said the raid followed intelligence reports that suspected criminals were hiding in the Oroki Estate area of the state capital.

Police spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi said one of those arrested, Oladele Abiodun, popularly known as “Ashipa,” was a wanted suspect linked to serious crimes, including murder.

The other suspects arrested are Akande Taiwo, Adeyemo Lukman, Olaoye Muftau and Aderemi Musliu.

According to the police, officers recovered ₦4,810,500 in cash, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, a printer, two voter cards and a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15.

The command said all the recovered items have been taken into custody for forensic examination and further investigation.

The police added that the cash and voter register have raised suspicions of possible electoral offences, including alleged vote-buying, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted suspect.

Investigators are also working to determine the source and intended use of the money and identify everyone connected to the recovered items.

The command insisted that no individual is above the law, regardless of political status, and assured that anyone found guilty would be prosecuted.

Meanwhile, the Accord Party condemned the arrests, describing them as intimidation and unlawful detention of its members ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the party’s Imole Campaign Council spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said, “in the last two, three days, over 86 members of the Accord Party have been arrested for no reason. 

“These people were arrested and brought by road to Abuja and are being detained here unnecessarily.”

He further alleged, “we have met with the leadership of the police and they cannot provide any explanation to us. There is no petition against them. 

“These people have committed no offence. The Commissioner of Police in Osun State is completely compromised,” adding, “there is a need for us to have a free, impartial election, an election where people can freely express their will. 

“Just now I have been informed the SSG of Osun State has been arrested for no reason because he was sensitising his people about the election.”

The police, however, maintained that the operation was intelligence-driven and conducted in line with its constitutional duty to investigate alleged criminal activities without fear or favour.