The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, has voiced deep alarm over claims that the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Gotan, instructed officers to adopt a shoot-at-sight approach toward anyone found on Local Government Council premises.
Reacting to the allegations, the Speaker described such a directive, if true, as both shocking and entirely out of place in a democracy. He was firm in stating that no political disagreement, no matter how tense, could ever justify taking the life of an innocent citizen.
According to him, Osun has long enjoyed a reputation as one of Nigeria’s more peaceful states, and he isn’t willing to watch that image unravel over political friction. He stressed that the police exist to safeguard lives, not endanger them, and warned that any order pushing officers toward shooting citizens without due process represents a serious blow to democratic values and the rule of law.
The Speaker also drew attention to earlier public claims about a so-called “killer squad” operating within the police force — allegations the Inspector-General of Police had previously dismissed. Even so, he pointed to what he described as a troubling pattern: reports of forced entry into people’s homes, arbitrary arrests, and shootings involving security operatives across the state. For him, these recurring claims can’t simply be waved away and deserve a thorough, transparent probe.
Beyond the shoot-at-sight allegations, Egbedun raised further questions about why police personnel appeared to be providing cover for APC-aligned thugs and intimidating residents
He reminded the public that the right to life is constitutionally protected and that no security agency is above the obligation to uphold it. On that note, he called on the Inspector-General of Police to launch an immediate investigation into the alleged directive credited to CP Gotan and to publicly clarify what operational instructions have actually been issued to police units in the state.
The Speaker also appealed to residents, civil society groups, journalists, and human rights organisations to stay alert and properly document any rights violations they witness or experience.
In his strongest remarks, Egbedun made clear that should any Osun citizen lose their life to an unlawful police action or an alleged shoot-at-sight order, he would personally explore every legal channel available to demand accountability — including international human rights mechanisms if necessary. He insisted that whoever is found responsible must answer for it, regardless of rank or position.
He closed by urging police leadership to de-escalate tensions immediately, respect due process, and ensure every operation carried out in the state strictly follows constitutional and legal boundaries. According to him, the Assembly remains firmly committed to protecting democracy and human rights, stressing that no political contest is worth a single life.
#OsunState #PoliceBrutality #HumanRights #Egbedun #ShootAtSight #RuleOfLaw #WawaReporters #NigeriaNews #Democracy
