First Lady Titilola Adeleke Leads Women's Protest to Police Headquarters, Submits Petition as 18 Political Killings Are Reported Across Osun State

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

The streets of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, became a stage for raw grief and unyielding defiance on Monday, August 10, 2026, as hundreds of women, many dressed in black and carrying placards that spoke of bullets, ballots and blood, marched against what they described as relentless police harassment, political violence, and the killing of their loved ones just five days before the state's crucial governorship election. Their message was as simple as it was devastating: election is not war, votes are not bullets, and no political ambition is worth the life of a child, a husband, or a brother.

Armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as "Stop Electoral Violence," "We Want Ballots, Not Bullets," "Election Is Not War," "Vote, Don't Fight," "Stop the Killings in Osun," and "14-Year-Old Child Is Too Small to Die," the women marched from various parts of the city, converging on the streets leading to the Osun State Police Command headquarters along the West Bypass. They sang solidarity songs at the top of their voices, their collective grief amplifying into a roar that could not be ignored. According to Daily Post, one of the women, simply identified as Eniola, condemned the violence being witnessed in the state ahead of the election, stressing that political disagreements should never be used to justify killings, intimidation or destruction. "Our children, husbands, brothers and sisters must not become casualties of political ambition. Elections come and go, but human lives cannot be replaced," she said.

The protest was not merely a spontaneous outburst of anger. It was a carefully coordinated demonstration that drew the participation of the First Lady of Osun State, Mrs Titilola Adeleke, who led a group of women from Lameco through the West Bypass to the police command headquarters. Accompanied by the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Ayobola Awolowo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Mrs Eniola Omotoso, the First Lady submitted a letter of protest to the Commissioner of Police in charge of election duties, CP Samuel Etaifo. Addressing the police officer, Mrs Adeleke demanded an election free from intimidation, alleging that some leaders of the Accord Party were being targeted for arrest by opposition elements. "From what we heard, we learnt that they will start picking our leaders up this week. Last Friday, they picked up the Commissioner for Environment. He was brought here, stripped naked. This is not good enough. They should leave our people alone," she said.

The women's demands were unequivocal. They called for an immediate end to harassment and intimidation of citizens on political grounds, impartial and professional conduct by the police and other security agencies, a credible investigation into all reported cases of political violence and killings, equal protection for all political parties, candidates and voters, a free, fair, transparent and credible electoral process, adequate security at polling units and collation centres without political interference, and respect for the fundamental rights of citizens to vote according to their conscience. Central to their demands was the redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, whom they accused of perceived partisanship. "The police must ensure equal protection for political parties, candidates and their supporters," the women declared, according to Channels Television.

The protest comes against a backdrop of escalating political violence that has already claimed multiple lives across the state. According to a report by Vanguard on August 9, 2026, fresh fears of further violence have gripped Osun State, with the two major opposition parties, the All Progressives Congress and the Accord Party, claiming to have lost a combined 18 members in the build-up to the poll. The APC campaign council alleged that 10 of its members had been killed, while the Accord Party said eight of its people had also lost their lives. The Kimpact Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, said 44 election-related violent incidents resulting in 13 fatalities were recorded in Osun between October 2025 and June 2026. The Nigeria Police Force has documented at least 30 politically motivated killings in the state, according to a Punch report, heightening concerns about voter safety and the possibility of further violence before and during the poll.

The women's protest also highlighted the growing fear among residents, with some now avoiding clothes, caps and other materials bearing political party colours or insignia following a series of politically linked killings. Findings showed that some residents now consider publicly displaying political allegiance a security risk, particularly in areas that have witnessed clashes between rival groups. The atmosphere in Osun has become increasingly tense, with the deployment of 15,000 policemen generating divergent reactions among political parties and civil society organisations. Chairman of the Osun State Civil Societies Coalition, Waheed Lawal, told Naija News that the atmosphere remained tense due to political violence and what he described as declining public confidence in security agencies. "There is tension and people are currently afraid because of the violence here and there, and because of what the security agencies are doing, especially the police. People have lost confidence in them," Lawal said.

Receiving the petition at the police command headquarters, CP Samuel Etaifo assured the protesters that the police would provide a peaceful atmosphere for the conduct of the election. He said the security situation in the state had improved since his deployment, while urging political actors to avoid actions capable of creating tension. "If you notice, since I came, we have relative peace in the state. But the problem we have is that we cannot continue to tolerate what you have done today because it will not contribute to peace; it will cause tension again," Etaifo said. The police commissioner said he was in the state on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to stabilise the state and provide an enabling environment for all political actors to exercise their franchise. "I have the mandate of the Inspector-General of Police to come to the state and stabilise things, give an enabling environment for every political actor to exercise their franchise, to create public confidence for everyone to come out to vote on election day," he said. Etaifo assured the protesters that the command would review their demands and restrategise to address the issues raised. "We are going to go back and restrategise to attend to all your demands," he added.

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, had earlier on August 7, 2026, announced that at least four police personnel would be deployed to each polling unit across the state, amounting to approximately 14,692 officers, as part of a large-scale security operation designed to prevent violence and maintain order during the election. Disu also explained on August 9 that the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Gotan, was asked to step aside following complaints from political parties and stakeholders, a decision that was met with relief by the protesting women. However, the women made it clear that their concerns extended far beyond the redeployment of one officer. They demanded a fundamental shift in the conduct of security agencies, insisting that the police must serve as protectors of the people rather than being perceived as an instrument of political intimidation.

As the women dispersed from the streets of Osogbo on Monday evening, their placards still held high, their message reverberated across the state. They had come not as politicians, not as partisans, but as mothers, wives and sisters who had watched their loved ones fall to political violence and police brutality. They had demanded that the government and security agencies listen, and for a moment, they had been heard. But whether their demands will translate into a peaceful and credible election on Saturday remains to be seen. The question that now hangs over Osun State is whether the women's protest will be the turning point that ensures the people's will prevails, or whether it will be remembered as the moment when a state on the brink of violence cried out for help and was met with promises that were never kept.

📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews