The Kwara State Police Command has announced the restriction of vehicular movements on Saturday across the state.
In a statement issued by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Paul Odama warned the public on the enforcement of total restrictions of all forms of vehicular movements on roads and waterways from 12 a.m to 6 p.m local time, throughout the period of voting.
“Following the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, the restriction is aimed at preventing criminally minded individuals from taking advantage of the elections to perpetrate evil in the country” the statement read.
Total Restriction
of stated that the command was to enforce total restrictions of all forms of vehicular movements on roads and waterways across the length and breadth of Kwara from 1200am to 0600pm of February 25, 2023.
The statement however explained that vehicles carrying essential services such as INEC officials, electoral observers, medical personnel, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, would be allowed to move when necessary.
The command also warned that security aides and escorts are not allowed to accompany their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election, as anyone found flouting this directive would be severely sanctioned.
The command emphasised that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties are to be seen within and around the designated election booths and centres.
“The ban on unauthorised use of sirens, revolving lights, covered number plates and tinted glasses is still in force and violators would be sanctioned appropriately,” it said.
The command also warned that vigilante groups and other non-actors are excluded from the election security.
It appealed for the continued support and cooperation of the members of the public in this regard to enable the state to have a seamless electoral process.
It further advised members of the public to cooperate with all security personnel and render any support needed to ensure the success of the election in the state.
The members of the public are urged to discharge their civic responsibility without fear, as measures have been put in place to forestall any incidents that may disrupt the peaceful conduct of the general election.
“The following phone numbers are available: 08053321599, 08033364919, 08125275046 and 07032069501 for members of the public to call in case of any emergency,” the statement said.
Customs Deploys 124 Personnel
In a related development, the Kwara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS has deployed 124 personnel at strategic locations to ensure peaceful conduct of Saturday’s elections.
The NCS Area Controller, Mr Kehinde Ilesanmi, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen
According to him, the command will leave no stone unturned to ensure peaceful conduct of the polls.
The Customs boss said they are part of the inter-agency committee on election security and they have to secure the boarder communities as they don’t want to compromise the security of the borders.
He disclosed further that the personnel at Kosubosu, Kaiama and Chikanda are going to do their election duty at their places of deployment.
“We have since issued effective operational order to our officers in the border areas on how to prevent illegal businesses and deal with smugglers.
“We have blocked all their identified exits through our border areas in Kwara,” he said.
Ilesanmi advised the personnel to be apolitical and neutral in order to achieve a violent-free poll .
Confidence Okwuchi
