Ahead of Saturday’s Governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has deployed seven Deputy Inspectors-General of Police in the six geopolitical zones across the country to supervise election security.
He has also dispatched 10 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to the police zonal commands and 277 Commissioners of Police to complement the efforts of the CPs in the 36 state commands and the Federal Capital Territory.
With this deployment, each command now has additional three CPs posted to the three senatorial districts in their respective states of assignment.
A statement in Abuja on Wednesday by the Force spokesman, ACP Frank Mba, disclosed that this would form part of the security management base for the command CPs.
However, based on security assessment earlier carried out by the force, the police said some local government areas in Plateau, Benue, Imo and Taraba states would have one Commissioner of Police deployed in the councils to coordinate security.
“Each of them is expected to work with the Command CP and ensure that no stone is left unturned towards emplacing adequate security, including the supervision of security personnel deployed in each of the senatorial districts under their watch,” the statement said.
It further announced that new CPs had been posted to Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo and Sokoto state commands for the purposes of the election.
The IG assured that just as in the recently concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections, “the Nigeria Police Force shall remain civil, firm, optimally professional and apolitical in the discharge of our duties in the March 9, 2019 elections.”
Also, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone XI, Mr Leye Oyebade, on Wednesday reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s elections.
Speaking at a meeting held at the Zone XI headquarters in Osogbo and attended by Commissioners of Police in Osun, Oyo and Ondo; Abiodun Ige, Shina Olukolu and Undie Adie respectively, AIG Oyebade declared that the police authorities would not allow hoodlums to disrupt polls in any part of the zone.
He subsequently directed Commissioners of Police to beef up security across their states of operation, with more attention on the flash points.
He also warned that police would deal decisively with any person or group of persons planning to disrupt election in the zone.
A statement signed by SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer for Zone XI Command, containing resolutions of the meeting read in part, “While reviewing security arrangements in the last elections during another strategic meeting held in his office in Osogbo today, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, Leye Oyebade, reiterated the commitment of the police towards more peaceful elections.
“Oyebade also directed commissioners of police in the zone to beef up security, especially in identified flashpoints so as to prevent recurrence of the isolated cases witnessed during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“Also assuring the public of peaceful elections on Saturday, the police boss commended the media for its unbiased reportage, adding that the zone would ensure protection of INEC staff, materials, the electorate, journalists and other critical stakeholders involved in the electoral process.”