Ekiti election: IGP deploys 30, personnel

AHEAD of the Ekiti State Governorship election scheduled to hold on Saturday, the Nigeria Police Force, on Sunday released an operational order as approved by the Inspector General of Police, NPF, IGP Ibrahim Idris ‎in order to ensure a peaceful, credible, free and fair election in the State with an immediate deployment of two surveillance Helicopters to the state.

The approved operational order ‎was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday by the Force Public Relations Officer. FPRO. DCP Jimoh Moshood.

According to the statement, “the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations has been deployed to the State and will be assisted by an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Four Commissioners of Police, Eight Deputy Commissioners of Police and 18 Assistant Commissioners of Police,

It stated that each of the Senatorial districts would be manned by a Commissioner of Police while the DIG would implement and coordinate the security operations, and also supervise the deployment of security personnel for the elections throughout the 2451 Polling units/voting points, 177 Wards and the 16 Local Government Areas of the State.

‎The FPRO stated that to ensure adequate security before, during and after the election, the IGP has approved the deployment of 30,000 Police personnel to the State for the Election.

According to him, “the personnel comprising Police Mobile Force (PMF) Units, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), the Special Protection Unit (SPU), the Anti-Bomb Squad (EOD), Conventional Policemen, the Armament Unit, personnel of FCIID and the Sniffer dogs section. Four (4) Policemen and two (2) others from other security agencies will be on duty at each polling unit throughout the State

“The Police Mobile Force (PMF)Which is to be headed by a very Senior Officer will provide security at the RAC, Super RAC and collation centres‎”.

‎The FPRO said that in addition, “Two Patrol Surveillance Helicopters, Five additional Armoured Personnel Carriers, 10 Armoured Personnel Vehicles and 250 Police patrol vehicles are deployed throughout the State including difficult terrains

“Other security and safety agencies who are members of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the State are also deployed to complement the Nigeria Police Force during the election.”

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‎He further disclosed that as part of additional measures to guarantee a peaceful and credible election, the IGP would ‎today attend a stakeholder’s and peace accord meeting of all the 36 political parties participating in the election and their flag bearers, INEC officials, election observers and other accredited stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

‎He disclosed that all the Police officers and personnel of other security and safety agencies deployed for the elections were under strict Instructions to be polite and civil but firm in the discharge of their duties and other responsibilities.

According to him “they are to provide adequate security for the electorates, INEC Officials, movement of election materials, the accredited election observers and other individuals and bodies that have statutory roles in the conduct of the election, at the Polling units, Collation Centres and INEC Offices throughout the period of the election

“Special security identification tags will be worn by all security personnel deployed for the election. No personnel of any security agency will be allowed to move to any other location other than where they were deployed throughout the election period

‎”Security personnel attached to public office holders and politicians will not be allowed to follow their principals to the polling units or collation centres throughout the election

“Security personnel are hereby warned to desist from escorting their Principals and Politicians to polling units and collation centres during the election. Any deviant security detail will be apprehended and dealt with accordingly.”

The FPRO added that “Commissioners of Police and their personnel in States contiguous and close to Ekiti State, such as Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, Ogun, Edo and Oyo States have been directed by the IGP to be on Red-Alert with their personnel.

“They are to deploy massively within areas neighbouring to Ekiti State to prevent crimes, hoodlums and miscreants and other unwanted elements or groups from infiltrating from their States to Ekiti State to disrupt the election.”

He revealed that “restriction of vehicular movement in and out of Ekiti State will commence from 12-midnight of Friday, 13th July 2018 till the end of the election.

He advised Travellers and other road users to make use of alternative routes, stating that those on essential duties on genuine course would be granted passage.

He then called ‎on all the 36 participating Political parties and their leadership and supporters, Traditional rulers, Community leaders, parents and Guardians to warn and prevail on their members, supporters, subjects, children and wards to be law abiding and not to allow themselves to be used to cause disturbance of the peace or disruption of the election/electoral process anywhere in the State.

The FPRO warned that the full weight of the law would be applied on any person or group of persons found violating the electoral act or indulging in any criminal conduct capable of causing violence before, during and after the election.

‎According to him, “threat assessments have been carried out by the Police in Ekiti State and all identified flashpoints and troubled prone areas have been addressed.

“However, the Force will not hesitate to deal decisively in accordance with the electoral act and other enabling laws with any individual(s) or group(s), no matter how highly placed, whose utterances or conduct is contrary to the electoral act or that can incite disturbance of public peace, law and order before, during or after the election

‎”The electorates and the general public in Ekiti State who observe any untoward incident or crime can reach the Joint Operation Room for the election through the following phone numbers; 08062335577, 08035925554, 08081761702.”

‎He assured the electorates, the contestants and all law-abiding citizens in Ekiti State of adequate security throughout the election and enjoined them to feel free to go out and cast their votes without any fear or apprehension, urging them to cooperate with the Police personnel in the discharge of their duties.