From Molly Kilete. Abuja
The acting Inspector General of Police(IGP), Ibrahim Idris, yesterday announced the deployment of 25,000, Police personnel, to maintain law and order in the re-scheduled elections holding tomorrow.
This is coming just as the IGP, has directed the Commissioner of Police in Edo State to enforce the restriction of vehicular movement from 12 midnight today, Tuesday, September 27, 2016 to 6pm, September, 28, 2016 except those on essential duties.
The 25,000, personnel according to the IGP, comprises men of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Units (CTU), the Anti bomb squad, the Marine police and the conventional police.
In a statement signed by the force public relations officer, Don Awunah, he said also deployed are personnel from the police Armament Units, Force criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and the Sniffer Dog Section.
The IGP, who made this known yesterday in Abuja, said the deployment is to ensure the safety of lives and property before, during and after the elections.
He said that in addition to the 25,000, personnel, police helicopters would also carry out Aerial Surveillance and Gun Boats’ patrol, adding that additional Armoured Personnel Carriers and 5550 patrol vehicles will be deployed to cover all the polling units, rack centers, collating centres, Riverine areas and difficult terrains.
The IGP, who made this known in Abuja, said the revised election security operation plan “will guarantee free, fair and credible election, secure electoral process, enable eligible voters exercise their franchise freely and voluntary, protection of election materials and officials, ensure adequate security”.
He called on the good people of Edo state to continue to be law abiding and refrain from any action that will jeopardize the existing peace and security in the state even as he assured that the police will discharge its statutory functions effectively and in accordance to the principles of democratic policing.
He called on all police officers and those of other sister security agencies deployed for the election to conduct themselves in the best professional manner, maintaining apolitical disposition and adhering strictly to the rules of engagement.