IG Deploys More Officers to Rivers, Other Volatile States

Bars uniformed security, aides from accompanying principals to polling units

Yemi Akinsuyi In a crucial effort to prevent more incessant political killings across the nation, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Suleiman Abba, is deploying more police personnel to Rivers State and other volatile states.

This came as Abba warned all security detail attached to political office holders to desist from accompanying their principals to polling booths and collation centres during the election.

The police boss, who stated this yesterday at a conference with the commands’ Commissioners of Police said so far, three suspects had been arrested in Enugu in connection with the blast that took place during the presidential elections.

While appreciating the police for a job well done, Abba said 124 suspects were arrested on various electoral offences, adding that some had been charged to court, while investigations continue.

In his words: “First of all, I must commend our officers and men for their performance in the last election. They exhibited high sense of professionalism, impartiality, and non-partisanship to a great level. We are here to encourage them to do more so that they don’t rubbish what they had already achieved.

“We are re-strategising on the crime prevention and control and that is why we are deploying more officers to states like Rivers and other volatile ones. We have so far arrested three suspects in connection with the Enugu State bomb blast and so far, we have arrested 124 people for different electoral offences.”

He, however, regretted that despite the fact that the police and other security agencies did their best to protect Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other important places, as well the citizens, there were still pockets of challenges.

“Our coming together here today will proffer solution to these problems and we will ensure that they don’t crop up in the coming election,” he said.

Speaking on the allegation of suspected sabotage in the death of Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Minkaila Abdullahi and some members of his family in an inferno, Abba said preliminary investigations had revealed that it was a fire incident but that if subsequent investigations, especially medical reports, state otherwise, then the police will get it across to the public.

Reacting to the supposed threat message by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu to Igbos in Lagos, the IG said since the traditional ruler had denied the allegation, he was not in any position to state otherwise.

Meanwhile, the IG has warned all security detail attached to political office holders to desist from accompanying their principals to polling booths and collation centres during the election.

In a statement signed by the Force spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, the IG noted that the only police personnel specifically assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.

Abba also reiterated his earlier warning that no armed police escort must be seen escorting politicians to the polling units as such policemen would be arrested and made to face stern disciplinary action.

He called for a similar level of citizens’ cooperation and support for the police and other relevant agencies in the forthcoming gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections this weekend.

He enjoined Nigerians to remain calm, confident, hopeful and trusting in the ability of the police and other relevant agencies to discharge their constitutional mandate of ensuring the safety of lives and property, and in protecting the democratic rights and freedoms of the citizens.

He pledged the preparedness of the Force to consolidate and re-enact the last election security success story in other future elections.