Police Arrest Officer Over Accidental Tear Gas Discharge During Osun Election

The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a police officer who was captured on video accidentally discharging tear gas during Saturday’s governorship election in Modakeke, Ife East Local Government Area.

The incident, which went viral on social media, was initially alleged to have occurred at a polling unit.

However, the command clarified in a statement that the discharge happened at a Registration Area Centre (RAC), not a polling unit.According to the statement, the officer’s action was the result of negligence while attempting to ease himself.

The command described the conduct as “highly condemnable” and said it fell far below the standards expected of the Nigeria Police Force.

The officer has since been apprehended, and a thorough investigation is underway to determine the circumstances and rule out any ulterior motives.

The police stressed that officers deployed for election duty are not permitted to carry arms within a specified radius of polling units, dismissing claims that the incident was intended to suppress voters as “false and misleading.”

Apologising to citizens and stakeholders affected by the incident, the command assured that the officer will face appropriate disciplinary action in line with police regulations.

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