IGP Egbetokun assures of peaceful guber poll in Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo

The acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, says the police have implemented water-tight measures to ensure a free and fair November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.

Mr Egbetokun said this on Thursday in Abuja at a meeting with strategic police managers and media briefing to highlight policies, breakthroughs and achievements of the Nigeria Police Force in the last five weeks.

He said the meeting was to allow the participants to enumerate some of the operational plans toward policing the off-season governorship election to be held concurrently in the three states.

“We are going to leverage the fact that the elections are limited to just three states to deploy adequately for this election.

“Just three states, it will be very convenient for us, so nobody should entertain any fear about the election. We are prepared for it, and very soon, we will start the deployment,” he said.

Mr Egbetokun said the police deliberately decided to take its annual retreat to one of the states where the election would be held.

“The conference would be two weeks to the election, so it is deliberate and not by accident that we chose that state and that date.

“It is to show to the public that we are ready for the election, so there is no fear about the election,” he said.

He said that the country’s internal security situation, over the last month, had been relatively calm despite the threats of political and socio-economic instability that greeted the removal of fuel subsidy and post-election tribunal judgements across the country.

“Comparatively, we have recorded lesser number of violent crimes and other major offences across the country,” he said.

He said the force would leave no stone unturned and continue to be on its toes in ensuring that it played its role well in the efforts toward achieving economic recovery, growth, and social and political development of the nation.

“Consequently, all command commissioners of police and other tactical commanders are hereby directed to ensure adequate security is emplaced and sustained in their areas of responsibilities.

“Any attempt by unscrupulous person(s) to sabotage the economic revival that our country is about to witness will be met with stiff opposition from all of us,” he said.

(NAN)