The Osun State Police Command said on Friday that two suspects apprehended in a car containing guns at the entry to the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal venue in Osogbo were still being investigated.
On Wednesday, a car carrying some people and guns was stopped at the entrance to the Osun State High Court’s premises.
In a statement signed by the command’s spokesman, Yemisi Opalola, on Friday, the police claimed the suspects were identified as Adigun Olalekan (37) and one Adebayo Rasaq (42), with both men claiming to be members of the state’s Nigerian Hunters, Forest and Security Service.
According to the statement, items recovered from the vehicle included two locally-made single barrel guns and two different vehicle number plates: Osun AA 531 RLG and Osun TAN 01 LT.
The command urged residents to disregard the misinformation being spread on the social media about the incident, saying it was a calculated attempt to cause apprehension.
The statement further read, “This is to inform the general public and to set the record straight that, on 16th November, 2022 at about 11:00am, armed police operatives deployed for special duty at the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting, on the Osun State High Court premises, Osogbo, intercepted a Toyota Camry Car with registration number ‘Osun OSGH 102’ at the gate of the high court, venue of the tribunal, driven by Adigun Olalekan (37) with one Adebayo Rasaq (42).
“When the vehicle was searched, two locally-made single barrel guns and two different vehicle number plates, Osun AA 531 RLG and Osun TAN 01 LT, were recovered from the boot. The suspects claimed they are members of Nigerian Hunters, Forest and Security Service, Osun Chapter. They claimed they were engaged by the government to guard the premises of the high court and that they had been guarding the premises long before the tribunal was established and commenced sitting.