The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of an Accord Party lawmaker, Abiola Ibrahim, alongside 146 people described as suspected mercenaries ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Ibrahim represents Irewole/Isokan State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrests on Saturday, saying they were carried out by operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Intelligence Response Team.
Ojelabi said Ibrahim was apprehended in Ikire during the early hours of Saturday over allegations that he was harbouring the suspected mercenaries.
“He was arrested in Ikire for harbouring suspected mercenaries. He was arrested with about 146 people,” the police spokesman said.
“FBI-IRT arrested him. He is in their custody. He was arrested in the early hours of Saturday.”
The development followed an earlier report that more than 100 people allegedly brought into Osun by a member of the Accord Party ahead of the election had been intercepted.
Footage from the operation showed police officers questioning Ibrahim at a residence where the group was found.
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When asked about the people at the location, the lawmaker denied recruiting them as political agents and maintained that they were registered voters who had come to cast their ballots.
“They are voters for the election happening today. Some of them are indigenes from outside. I did not hire them. I did not promise anything. Voting is their choice. I’m not their agent,” Ibrahim said.
The police have not disclosed further details about the identities of the 146 individuals or the specific allegations against them.