The Inspector-General of Police, Mr.Usman Baba has deployed additional officers and men to the Gombe State Police Command in preparation for Saturday’s Elections in the State.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Abubakar, said the additional personnel were drawn from the Police Mobile Force, Police Special Forces, IGP Election Monitoring Team and other tactical teams of the force.
ASP Abubakar said the deployment was carried out in order to boost the command strength, checkmate political thuggery and other related electoral offenses and adequately secure the forthcoming Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly Elections in the State.
“In addition to boosting the strength of the command, other operational assets have been added which comprises of operational vehicles, Personnel protective gadgets, anti-riot equipments with Armoured Personnel Carrier also have been allocated from the Force Headquarters Abuja to improve the operational and conventional outfits of the command,” the statement said.
ASP Abubakar said the Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Oqua Etim, had directed the deployment and distribution of acquired gadgets to Area Commands, Divisional Police Headquarters, and other tactical squads to effectively put the equipments in good use.
He said the CP had commended the effort of officers in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the presidential elections and commanded them to replicate same during the forthcoming Gubernatorial elections.
According to him, CP Etim has maintained that the Police remains neutral and apolitical in the Electoral process.
Consequently, CP Etim has given the assurances that members of the public should remain calm, but warned trouble makers to stay away from causing problems during the polls, “the Command will in collaboration with other security agencies ensure that the elections are peaceful and good people of Gombe state to exercise their franchise without intimidation/molestation.” He said.
He also charged officers and men of the command to remain apolitical, exhibit high level of alertness and professionalism.
Olusola Akintonde
