Osun 2026: 15,000 Police, 30 CPs, Helicopters, Drones Deployed for Saturday Election

The Nigeria Police Force has deployed more than 15,000 personnel, 30 Commissioners of Police and aerial surveillance assets for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed the security arrangements on Thursday while briefing journalists in Osogbo.

According to Iniedu, preparations for the election began three weeks ago, with a Deputy Inspector-General of Police assigned to coordinate the overall security operation across the state.

He said each of Osun’s 30 local government areas would have a Police Mobile Force unit, with each unit comprising about 60 armed personnel.

“We have deployed armed mobile policemen to every local government area in the state. So, we have 30 units across 30 local government areas. A unit is about 60 policemen,” Iniedu said.

In addition to the Mobile Police Force deployment, each local government area will have a Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Mobile Police commanders responsible for coordinating security operations.

Two additional Mobile Police Force units have also been deployed to the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Osogbo.

The police spokesperson said helicopters and drone units had arrived in the state and would conduct surveillance before, during and immediately after the election.

“As of today (Thursday), our helicopters and drone units have arrived in Osogbo, and they will be conducting area surveillance from now, during and immediately after the elections,” he said.

Iniedu also announced that the military would restrict vehicular movement on roads linking Osun with neighbouring states from midnight on Saturday as part of efforts to prevent the movement of criminal elements.

“We will be locking down the state. We will not be allowing any vehicular movement apart from those on essential duty, security duties and those going to cast their franchise,” he said.

He urged parents and guardians to caution young people against electoral offences such as intimidation, stalking, vote-buying and ballot-box snatching.

A mobile court will also be available to prosecute persons arrested for electoral offences during the poll.

Meanwhile, police authorities said about 34 illegal firearms had been recovered in Osun, with investigations continuing into the seizures.

The election will feature Governor Ademola Adeleke, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and ADC candidate Najeem Salaam among the major contenders.

Several officers were seen at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo preparing for deployment to their assigned locations.