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By Christopher Oji, Lagos
Ahead of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, the Nigeria Police High Command has read the riot act to to officers of men of the command not to go against the force act.
The Force also assured Lagos residents of safety, saying that areas of threats on none residents have been taken care of ,adding that residents should not entertain any fear as adquate security have been put in place.
The Deputy Inspector-General Police in charge of Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) and South West Zone, Mr Johnson Kokumo, gave the assurance after a security meeting with men and officers of the Lagos State Command. while briefing journalists, officers and men in preparation for the Saturday Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The DIG, who was responding to a question by a journalist on a viral video, where some people were threatened in Lagos, should a particular political party loses the election, said that all the areas noted for crisis or where threat may come from have been taken care of. He said that there would not be any loophole for trouble makers to operate as all areas will be well policed.
Kokumo said that more than 27,000 police personnel have been deployed to Lagos for the elections, stressing that other sister security agencies would join the number to provide security during and after the elections.
He urged the police personnel to ensure that they abide by the Electoral Act rules, by ensuring that the election was free, fair and credible in all parts of the state.
“We are supposed to be apolitical.We should not unlished terror on the members of the public. Don’t use arm on harmless members of the public.
“We are to be civil, respect the rights of citizens. We are to collaborate with sister security agencies, but we are to take lead according to the Electoral Act,” he said.
Kokumo said that the Inspector-General of Police has ordered for special deployment to man the air, land ,and water, with collaboration with sister security agencies operating in those areas.
He urged the command to set up a special electoral investigation team at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) where all cases and arrest relating to the elections would be treated immediately.
He also urged the command to ensure that the border posts are well policed with a view to prevent non-Nigerians incursion during the elections.
Earlier, Commissioner of police in Lagos command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, assured the DIG that the police in Lagos would not disappoint the residents and the nation at large.
“I assured you , DIG that we will not fail in Lagos as a command with God’s guardiance and commitment of the men I have. We will not fail the nation.
“We are assuring the people of Lagos that we will not fail in our elections’ duties. We shall make the nation proud,” Owohunwa assured.
