Not less than 29 police officers in Osun state are currently on trial for various offences contradicting the code of conduct of the Nigerian Police Force.

The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Femi Oyeleye, made this known while briefing reporters in his office in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.

The police commissioner said that the officers’ offences include extortion, dereliction of duty and inadequate supervision from superior officers among others.

He maintained that in line with the vision of the Inspector General of Police to ensure discipline in the force, no act of misconduct or illegality would be entertained in the state police command.

The traditional monarch of Osogbo, Jimoh Olanipekun, had raised an alarm on the planned abduction of the votary maid “Arugba Osun”, the centre of attraction in Osun Osogbo festival.

Reacting to this, the Police Commissioner assured residents of the state that security had been beefed up to forestall kidnapping.

“We have received intelligence report that some people are planning to kidnap the Arugba Osun.

“The monarch of the town also said this. So we have increased surveillance around the Arugba to prevent this. We have reinforced security around the Arugba and even the ‘Igba’ so that the festival can go on without any hitch.

“We are also assuring worshippers and all visitors of adequate security. The crime rate in Osun State is one of the lowest in the country and we will do everything to sustain this,” he said.

Every year, the Osun-Osgogbo festival is celebrated in the month of August, attracting thousands of Osun worshippers, spectators and tourists from all walks of life.

The ongoing festival will come to a climax on Friday.