NIGERIA: IGP Orders Tight Security For Saturday’s Bye-Elections In 13 States

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered extensive security measures ahead of Saturday’s bye-elections scheduled to hold in 13 states.

The affected states include Anambra, Kano, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Ogun, Zamfara and Niger.

According to a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Friday, senior officers of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioners of Police have been deployed to support state commands in supervising the electoral process.

Tactical units including the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, and Force Intelligence Department are also part of the deployment.

The IGP has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement on roads, waterways and other forms of transportation from midnight to 6pm on election day within the affected local government areas. Exemptions apply to officials on essential duties such as INEC staff, accredited journalists, electoral observers, emergency medical services and firefighters.

Egbetokun also reiterated the ban on security aides to VIPs and politicians from accompanying their principals to polling units and collation centres. State-owned security outfits, quasi-security units and privately-owned guards are prohibited from participating in election security management.

The statement reads: “All officers deployed for this special duty must adhere strictly to standard operational protocols for elections.”

The police chief urged citizens to remain law-abiding before, during and after the polls, assuring that adequate arrangements have been made to guarantee their right to vote wi

thout obstruction.