By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Osun State Police Command has arrested an officer after a tear gas canister was accidentally discharged at a Registration Area Centre in Modakeke, creating panic on Saturday as voters turned out for the governorship election.
The incident, which was captured in videos circulated widely on social media, initially triggered claims that police personnel had fired tear gas at voters in an attempt to disrupt the electoral process.
However, the police command said the incident did not occur at a polling unit and was not a deliberate attempt to disperse voters.
According to the command, the tear gas was discharged at the Registration Area Centre in Ward 10, Ife East Local Government Area, as a result of negligence by an officer who was attempting to ease himself.
The command, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the officer had been taken into custody and would face disciplinary proceedings.
“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,” the statement said.
The development came after videos from the scene went viral, showing a tense atmosphere as residents confronted police officers and expressed anger over the incident.
The command condemned the officer’s conduct, saying it fell below the standard expected of personnel deployed to provide security during an election.
“This conduct is highly condemnable and falls far below the standard expected of an officer of the Nigeria Police Force,” the command stated.
It added that an investigation had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the discharge and determine whether any other motive was involved.
“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 police said.
The command also sought to draw a distinction between the Registration Area Centre and the polling units, stressing that security personnel assigned to voting points are not permitted to carry arms or tactical equipment within the designated vicinity of polling locations.
The police dismissed reports suggesting that the tear gas was deliberately discharged to scare voters away from exercising their franchise.
The command apologised to residents and election observers affected by the incident and assured the public that measures remained in place to maintain peace throughout voting and the subsequent collation of results.
“The officer concerned will face appropriate disciplinary action in line with the Force’s regulations,” the command said.
It further reaffirmed its commitment to protecting voters, electoral officials, observers and other participants throughout the Osun governorship election.
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