Police to deploy 23,000 cops for Edo election

7 years ago

Police to deploy 23,000 cops for Edo election

The Nigeria Police on Thursday said that no fewer than 23,000 personnel, comprising officers and rank and file, would be deployed to 2,627 polling units for next month’s governorship election in Edo State.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Joshak Habila, who disclosed this during a visit to the state command to assess the level of preparedness for exercise, was accompanied by the Assistant Inspector General in charge of Zone 5, Olayinka Sodipo.

Nineteen political parties are expected to participate in the election.

Habila also said that 1,152 Hilux vans and 54 coastal buses would be provided to convey the personnel to their various duty posts across the 18 local government areas of the state.

He explained that the marine police would cover the riverine locations in Ovia North-East, Ovia South-West and Ikpoba-Okha LGAs, while flash points had been crime-mapped and geo-located for additional security.

Habila noted that a security data plan had been mapped out, in view of the security challenges that affected elections in the country.

He noted, “I want to remind you that the election in Edo State is going to serve as a test case in the ability of the police and other security agencies.

“Remember that we are not the drivers of the engine of elections in Nigeria. But we are responsible for providing robust and adequate security for those that are involved.”

While assuring voters and the media of their safety, the DIG warned that armed thuggery during the voting exercise would not be tolerated, adding that cases of unlawful possession of firearms would also be addressed swiftly.

He also warned the officers and men of the command to remain neutral and respect the rights of civilians in the discharge of their duties, as the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, would not hesitate to sanction all erring personnel appropriately.

Earlier, the AIG had urged the officers to maintain professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

He also reiterated the readiness of the zonal headquarters to provide effective and efficient policing throughout the voting exercise.

The Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, who is the Chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, noted that five personnel from different security agencies would be stationed at each of the polling units.

Ezike added that each policeman on election duty would be identified with a codifying tag to manage the use of orderlies and armed escorts as security details.