The Osun State Police Command has clarified the circumstances surrounding a tear gas incident at a Registration Area Centre in Modakeke during Saturday’s governorship election, saying the canister was accidentally discharged by an officer who was attempting to ease himself.

The clarification followed reports and videos circulating on social media alleging that men dressed as police officers had stormed an election centre in Modakeke, fired tear gas and disrupted the distribution of election materials.

Some of the initial reports suggested that the incident was a deliberate attempt to disrupt the electoral process and prevent voters from exercising their franchise.

The police, however, rejected that account in a statement issued on Saturday, explaining that the incident occurred at the Registration Area Centre in Ward 10, Ife East Local Government Area, and not at a polling unit.

According to the command, a police officer deployed for election duty negligently discharged his tear gas canister while attempting to ease himself.

“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 police said.

The command described the conduct of the officer as “highly condemnable,” saying it fell below the professional standard expected of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

Police said the officer was immediately apprehended following the incident and had been taken into custody for investigation.

The command added that a thorough investigation had commenced to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the discharge and determine whether there was any other motive behind the incident.

It also dismissed allegations that officers had intentionally fired tear gas to prevent eligible voters from participating in the governorship election.

“For the avoidance of doubt, police officers on election duty are not permitted to bear arms within a specified radius of polling units. Claims that the incident was intended to prevent eligible voters from exercising their franchise are therefore false and misleading,” the command stated.

The police apologised to residents, election officials and other stakeholders who may have been affected or inconvenienced by the incident.

It assured the public that the officer involved would face appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the regulations of the Nigeria Police Force if found culpable.

The command further reaffirmed its commitment to providing security throughout the Osun governorship election and ensuring that the exercise remained free, fair, credible, peaceful and inclusive.

The incident had earlier generated concern after videos and reports from Modakeke suggested that tear gas had been fired at a centre connected with the distribution of election materials, prompting speculation about possible interference with the electoral process.

Police have now maintained that the discharge was accidental and attributable to the negligence of an individual officer rather than an organised attempt by the force to disrupt the election.

Investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

Follow Our WhatsApp Channel _______________________________________________________________________

“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof

Two leading books on electronic evidence by Hon. Justice Professor Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, Rtd., PhD, FICMC, are now available for purchase. The publications, Electronic Evidence (Second Edition), With The Evidence Act, 2011 and Compendium Of Cases On Electronic Evidence, Volume II, 2020–2025, provide practical guidance, legal analysis and recent judicial authorities on electronic evidence in Nigeria.Order directly from the author here: https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/ _______________________________________________________________________

[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials

“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.

Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation

______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion. Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.