The Osun State Police Command has arrested an officer attached to a Registration Area Centre (RAC) in Modakeke Ward 10, Ife East Local Government Area, after he accidentally discharged tear gas during the ongoing governorship election.
Videos of the incident circulated widely on social media, causing panic among residents and raising concerns among election stakeholders.
In a statement, the command’s spokesman, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the incident occurred at the RAC, not at any polling unit, as suggested in some online reports.
According to the police, the officer discharged the tear gas while attempting to ease himself, a lapse described as negligence, not deliberate.
“The attention of the Osun State Police Command has been drawn to reports and videos circulating on social media concerning an incident alleged to have occurred in Modakeke Ward 10, Ife East Local Government Area, where an officer posted to Registration Area Centre (RAC) accidentally discharged his tear gas,” the command said.
It described the officer’s conduct as condemnable and said it fell below the standard expected of Nigeria Police Force personnel. The officer has been apprehended, and an investigation is ongoing to establish whether any other motive was behind the incident.
The command dismissed claims that the discharge was intended to stop eligible voters from casting their ballots, noting that officers on election duty were barred from bearing arms within a specified radius of polling units.
It apologised to residents and stakeholders affected by the incident and reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful and credible electoral process. The police said the officer would face disciplinary action once the investigation concludes, in line with extant regulations.
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