Police Forced Me To Remove Underwear — Osun Commissioner
By RhemDy News
The Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, has accused operatives of the Nigeria Police Force of forcing him to remove his singlet, trousers, shoes, socks and belt after he was arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with an Amotekun operative attached to his convoy.
Adejoorin disclosed this on Sunday shortly after he was released from the Osun State CID, where he was detained alongside an operative of the Osun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun.
The Commissioner said he was travelling to Ilesa on Saturday with his driver and an Amotekun operative when they were intercepted by a team of police officers.
He said the incident began after his driver missed a turn, prompting him to ask him to turn back.
Shortly afterwards, he noticed an SUV approaching with a police team, including an officer he identified as Wemimo, also known as Solo.
Adejoorin said the officers blocked their vehicle and made several phone calls before questioning why an Amotekun operative was accompanying him.
He further explained that the operative was officially attached to his office and had been assigned to provide security for him in view of the deteriorating security situation in the state.
According to the commissioner, the police had previously provided security personnel to his office, but those officers were withdrawn, prompting the deployment of Amotekun operatives for his protection.
He said the police searched his vehicle, including the boot, but found nothing incriminating yet ordered him and the Amotekun operative into a Land Cruiser, while his driver was instructed to follow them.
Adejoorin said the police drove them around Ilesa for about 40 minutes before taking them to a house, where he encountered a man identified as Femi Oloko before subsequently being taken to the police CID.
The commissioner said that upon arrival at the CID, he was made to sit on a counter and ordered him to remove his underwear, singlet, trousers, shoes, socks and belt and hand over his phone.
Adejoorin said someone later intervened and questioned the manner in which he was being treated, pointing out that he was a serving commissioner.
The commissioner said that following the intervention, they were allowed to put their underwear and other clothes.
“We made a statement that didn't show that we knew anything about what they were saying. But they were not satisfied with it,” he said.
“They said they would detain us.”
Adejoorin said the police later released his driver that night, so that he could inform his associates that the commissioner and the Amotekun operative were still in custody.
He said the Amotekun operative remained detained despite presenting documents authorising him to carry the rifle he was carrying.
“Yesterday (Saturday), they released the driver. I was put in a room. They opened the window. I didn't sleep. I was praying to God because I didn't know what would happen next. I didn't know what would come next.
“They released me this (Sunday) morning. The Amotekun operative is still in custody.”
The commissioner further stated that police officers told him the Amotekun operative could only be released if his superior came to the station to bail him.
When asked what offence the police said he had committed, Adejoorin said there was no specific offence communicated to him beyond the allegation that he had taken an Amotekun operative along with him.
He said the police claimed the presence of the Amotekun operative had a political undertone because of his position as a commissioner serving under Governor Ademola Adeleke.
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