As the Ekiti State governorship election slated for June 18, 2022, gets in top gear, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, has ordered the mobilization and deployment of adequate police personnel.
Also deployed are Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), technical capabilities of the police airwing, the Force Marine, Mounted Troops, K-9 Section, and other operational assets for.
In addition, selected seasoned strategic Commanders from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above have also been positioned for effective supervision of security personnel and operations in the election.
Making this known in a statement on Sunday, June 12, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the IGP directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), who is the supervisory DIG for the South-West Geo-Political Zone, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, to the state as the coordinator of the security component for the election.
The DIG has been tasked with overseeing the implementation of the operation order evolved from the election security threat assessment, to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment devoid of violence, the FPRO stated.
DIG Kokumo is also to guarantee law-abiding citizens of security to freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.
He would be assisted by four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, three Commissioners of Police, five Deputy Commissioners of Police and 18 Assistant Commissioners of Police.
CSP Adejobi said that the senior officers are to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three senatorial districts, 16 Local Government Areas and the 2,445 polling units in the state.
According to the FPRO, the operational deployments was carried out by the IGP as part of actions aimed at creating a conducive and enabling environment that will guarantee the peaceful and proper conduct of the election.
The deployed police personnel, comprising conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit (SPU), Force Public Relations Department (FPRD), as well as police medical teams, would be on ground to guarantee free, fair, credible and acceptable election.
In addition were five Armoured Personnel Carriers for patrol as well as four helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for aerial surveillance among other unique operational capabilities.
Reassuring the nation and the international community that the Force was adequately prepared for the election , IGP Alkali reiterated that the Force would do everything within its powers to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC officials, equipment, accredited observers, both domestic and international, and other key players.
The IGP admonished the state indigenes and residents to be law-abiding and ensure compliance with the restriction of movement order which would be announced by the Commissioner of Police as and when due.
