EKITI GOV POLL: Police deploy 30,000 personnel, helicopters, others

Ahead Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has announced the deployment of 30,000 personnel to ensure a hitch free poll.

Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, who announced this in a statement released Sunday in Abuja, also said that two patrol surveillance helicopters, five additional Armoured Personnel Carriers ( APC), 10 armoured personnel vehicles and 250 police patrol vehicles, have been also deployed.

According to Moshood, personnel deployed comprised of Police Mobile Force (PMF) Units, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), the Special Protection Unit (SPU), the Anti Bomb Squad (EOD), Conventional Policemen, the Armament Unit, personnel of FCIID and the Sniffer dogs section.

He added that members of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the State were also deployed to complement force during the election.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations, he said, has been deployed to the state and would be assisted by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, four commissioners of police, eight deputy commissioners of police and 18 assistant commissioners of police.

Moshood explained that each of the senatorial district would be manned by a commissioner of police while the DIG will implement and coordinate the security operations as well as supervise the deployment of security personnel for the elections throughout the 2,451 polling units/voting points, 177 wards and the 16 local government areas of the state.

He disclosed that four police officers and two others from other security agencies would man each polling unit throughout the state.

He said, “Police officers and personnel of other security and safety agencies deployed for the elections are under strict instructions to be polite and civil but firm in the discharge of their duties and other responsibilities.”

The police spokesman further said that security personnel attached to public office holders and politicians would not be allowed to follow their principals to the polling units or collation centres.

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”Any deviant security detail will be apprehended and dealt with accordingly,” Moshood said.

Restriction of vehicular movement in and out of Ekiti would commence from 12-midnight of July 13 Friday, till the end of the election”, he said advising ”travellers and other road users to make use of alternative routes.”

He added, “However, those on essential duties on genuine course will be granted passage.”

 

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