Dare Babalola
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has directed “water-tight security” across the 13 states having bye-elections in the country, including enhanced visibility policing, strategic deployment of personnel, and increased vigilance.
The affected states include Anambra, Kano, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kano, Ogun, Zamfara, and Niger States.
Egbetokun, in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi on Friday, said senior officers, including Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and commissioners of police, have been deployed to supervise the elections across the affected local government areas.
He said operational logistics and tactical teams from the police mobile force, the force intelligence department, and other specialised units have also been deployed to ensure a free and fair process.
Also, the IGP placed a ban on all security aides and private security to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
Egbetokun also announced a restriction of movement across the affected areas from 12 am to 6 pm on election day, with exemptions granted to INEC officials, accredited journalists, election observers, emergency responders, and firefighters.
He added, “The Inspector General of Police hereby charges all officers deployed for this special duty to ensure compliance with NPF standard operational protocols for elections and further urges all citizens to be law-abiding during and after the elections and assures that all necessary security arrangements have been emplaced to ensure their right to vote is unobstructed.”
