Police, Civil Defence deploy 40,000 operatives for Edo poll Order 16-hour vehicular restriction
The police and civil defence corps jointly deployed 40,000 operatives for the Edo State governorship election holding today.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris had also directed for the restriction of vehicular movement in Edo State between 12 midnight and 6:00pm.
In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Donald Awunah, the I-GP directed the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Samuel Adegbuyi, to enforce compliance.
The statement said that the restriction did not cover vehicles and motorists involved with essential duties, adding, however, that such vehicles must be properly identified and screened.
“The revised election security operation plan will guarantee free, fair and credible election, secure electoral process, enable eligible voters exercise their franchise freely and voluntaries, protection of election materials and officials, ensure adequate security before, during and after the election,” the statement said.
“To this end, in order to achieve the expected outcome of credible election acceptable to all stakeholders, the police will deploy 25,000 conventional police officers and tactical teams which include the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Special Protection Unit, Force Animal Branch, Police Air wing (Aerial patro) Marine Police Unit and Riverine Patrol.”
Also the civil defence corps said it had deployed 15, 250 personnel to ensure credible election in Edo.
The acting deputy commandantgeneral (operations) of the civil defence, Mr Hillary Madu, disclosed this, yesterday, while addressing personnel of the corps in Benin.
He said that the personnel included 15, 000 armed and unarmed officers and 250 others drawn from specialised units of the organisation, including the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT), Kernel, counter terrorism, undercover officers among others.
He said that the NSCDC would be visible in all the 2,627 polling units and 192 wards across the state.