· Orders partial restriction of movements
·
Bars
Security Aides from accompanying Principals on Election Day
As part of measures aimed at
ensuring a proper coordination of security operations and thus guaranteeing a
hitch-free election, and credible electioneering process in the forthcoming
Kogi State governorship election, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon
E. Arase, has deployed DIG Sotonye Leroy Wakama, the Deputy Inspector-General
of Police in charge of Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to supervise
security arrangements.
He will be assisted by three Commissioners of Police and
three Assistant Commissioners of Police during the election. For the sake of the election, the State
Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu has been redeployed to Force
Headquarters, Abuja pending the conclusion of the election.
The three CPs deployed to
Kogi State will be specifically saddled with the responsibility of supervising
security arrangements in the three Senatorial Districts of the State. They are:
CP Isaac Eke, CP Peter Ogunyanwo and CP Sam Okaula.
They will be assisted by an
Assistant Commissioner of Police each, in their respective senatorial
districts. In addition, 4,969 personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) drawn
from different squadrons across the country have been deployed to strategic
places, to complement the 11,000 conventional Police manpower, and other
security agents already deployed for the election.
Considering the geo-location
of Kogi State, sharing boundaries with 10 different States, the
Inspector-General of Police has ordered a partial restriction of vehicular
movement within the boundaries of Kogi State with effect from 6.00am to 6.00pm
on Saturday, 21st November, 2015.
All States contiguous to Kogi
State will be heavily policed, while motorists and other travellers plying the
affected routes will be subjected to rigorous search by security agents on
stop-and-search duty.
The Nigeria Police Force
notes that the partial restriction of movement order is informed by the
exigencies of overriding security considerations.
Noting that the Force is not unmindful
of the citizens’ right to freedom of movement, this measure is aimed at
forestalling tactics by faceless groups to undermine the electoral process. It
therefore suggests that travellers should take advantage of alternate routes to
their destinations where necessary within the hours of this partial restriction
of movement on Saturday 21st November, 2015, that this order is in Force.
While reassuring Nigerian
citizens, especially Kogi State indigenes of the readiness of the Police Force
and other security agencies to emplace an effective security architecture
towards ensuring a hitch-free election, the IGP reiterates his earlier call on
the citizens especially the gubernatorial candidates, party chieftains, opinion
moulders and other relevant stakeholders to conduct themselves within extant
electoral laws.
He warns that troublemakers
and persons not directly connected with the smooth conduct of the election
should stay out of the electoral process as the tough security arrangements in
place will leave no room for any untoward behaviour, while any person, no
matter his or her status, who attempts to test the will of the Police and other
security agents during the exercise will be isolated, apprehended and brought
to deserved justice.
The IGP, while assuring all
law-abiding electorates of a secure and
enabling environment to exercise their franchise, warns all security details to
refrain from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths
and collation centres during the election, as
only security personnel specially assigned for election duties must be
seen within and around the election designated places.
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