2023: Police Warn Personnel against Bearing Lethal Weapons at Polling Booths

Ahead of 2023 general election, the Nigerian Police Force yesterday warned that none of its personnel deployed to man the inner rings of polling booths should be seen bearing lethal weapons during the elections.

The Inspector General of Police, IG Usman Alkali Baba, gave this warning in Ilorin, Kwara State capital while delivering the maiden distinguished personality lecture of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.

Baba, however, said that the affected police operatives could only wield batons.

The lecture was at the instance of the Centre for Peace and Security Studies of the faith-based varsity.

Speaking on the lecture with the topic: “Engendering Security and Public Safety among Stakeholders Towards Peaceful 2023 General Elections in Nigeria,” he said men of the police at political gatherings shall be limited to the maintenance of peace and order as well as enforcement of extant laws.

He added that officers posted to the venues of elections must be acquainted with procedures guiding the conduct of the exercise.

The IG said: “All security personnel participating in the election should have the knowledge of procedurals at the election venues. That is classification of inner and outer rings respectively to serve as a guide in deployment.

“On no account should personnel deployed to the inner ring of the venue of the political events or voting centres/ polling booths be seen with any lethal weapon, except baton. Involvement of the police at political gatherings shall be limited to the maintenance of peace and order, and enforcement of extant laws.

“Officers shall at all-time exercise maximum restraint while covering political gathering or deployed at voting/collation centres. Force personnel shall not at any time turn themselves into spectators but shall at all times be conscious of happenings around them, observe precautionary measures, personal and public safety while on duty.