Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has urged all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), as well as tactical and operational commanders to show greater commitment during the state Assembly election to ensure a violence-free exercise.
State Police Commissioner (CP), Hakeem A. Busari stated this yesterday against the backdrop of violence that erupted in Kogi East leading to the killing of three persons.He spoke during the evaluation and review of security challenges experienced during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya and made available to The Premier News. In Plateau State, the Police Command has restated its commitment to ensure that tomorrow’s gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections are conducted peacefully. The CP, Isaac Akinmoyede, stated this after an inter-agency meeting with other security agencies in the state, stressing that security would be improved than that of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Akinmoyede, who oversees safety in Plateau, disclosed that over 8,000 security personnel have been deployed to the state from the police and other security agencies. He said the meeting was to evaluate their performance in the last elections and find ways of improving, especially at flashpoints like Jos North.
The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hussaini Halilu Pai, also spoke on the commission’s planned activities until elections day, adding that penalty will be meted out to any erring electoral officer. Also in Ebonyi State, the CP, Awosola Awotinde said the command has discovered four flashpoints were violence were recorded during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, noting that adequate security measures have been put in place to checkmate crisis in those areas. He disclosed this yesterday in Abakaliki at a media briefing, assuring the people of their safety before, during and after the polls. He, however, did not reveal the flashpoints, noting that security has been beefed up in the areas to forestall possible repeat of security challenges experienced during the last polls.
However, to forestall crisis that followed the elections two weeks ago in Rivers State, no fewer than 17,544 security personnel has been deployed for the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections. The CP, Usman Belel, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, saying there would be an outer perimeter deployment of armed men to guide against infiltration and hijacking of election materials.
Speaking at the end of the meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, (ICCES) yesterday, he explained that ahead of tomorrow’s election, the police had deployed 15,544 personnel across the state, while other security agencies would provide additional 2,000 personnel to boost security during the exercise.
Meanwhile, the Police in Katsina State said frontline local government areas bordering Rugu forest have been fortified ahead of tomorrow’s elections.The councils are, Batsari, Dandume, Danmusa, Faskari, Jibia, Kankara, Sabuwa and Safana. Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, the CP, Sanusi Buba, said the council areas have been “fortified with roving patrols to protect voters, as well as safeguard INEC staff and electoral materials.”
