Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, has reiterated his earlier directives on the deployment of operational logistics to the affected States and Local Government Areas where by-election would hold.
He said the deployment would provide an enabling environment for a free and fair by-elections.
This was made known in a statement signed by the Force Public Relation officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP Muyiwa Adejobi.
The statement read that the affected states include Anambra, Kano, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kano, Ogun, Zamfara, and Niger States.
DCP Adejobi said the IGP has directed the deployment of senior officers of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to assist State Commissioners of Police to ensure proper supervision over the electoral process for a smooth and hitch free election.
While officers and men of the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, Force Intelligence Department and other tactical units have equally been deployed.
The IGP has also ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day within affected Local Government Areas.
He said the directive was for all except those on essential services including INEC Officials, Accredited Media and Electoral Observers, Ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters.
Similarly, the IGP reiterates the ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
The statement revealed that State-established and owned security outfits/organisations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guards and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.
The Inspector General of Police hereby charges all officers deployed for this special duty to ensure compliance with NPF standard operational protocols for elections.
He urged all citizens to be law abiding during and after the elections and assured that all necessary security arrangements have been emplaced to ensure their right to vote was unobstructed.
Confidence Okwuchi