ELECTIONS: Police say personnel won’t carry firearms at polling centres

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) on Wednesday said that its personnel would not be allowed to carry firearms at polling centres during the February 16, and March 2 elections in Nigeria.

Acting Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, is said to have made this known when the European (EU) Election Observation Mission to Nigeria delegation visited him in Abuja.

According to him, throughout the duration of the elections, security personnel would keep close watch at the polling areas to make ensure restriction of movement and that electorates obey rules as stipulated by the electoral law.

Adamu also promised that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would provide security at the various centres from the beginning to the collation stages of the elections.

He told his visitors, “Your presence here in Nigeria to see the process will give credence to the fact that proper arrangement or otherwise has been made.

“We have done a lot in terms of security and training of our personnel in respect of the elections.

“Your mission to Nigeria is very important inasmuch as every Nigerian will want credible elections.”

He added that security is very essential in any election because without it, getting a credible elections would be difficult.

The leader of the delegation and Chief Monitor, Domini Howell, who spoke earlier, had told their host that the visit was to ascertain the level of preparedness of the police for the elections.

She said, “We know security is important during the elections so we want to meet you and know your activities for the day of the elections.”

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According to Howell, the EU had kept 11 persons in Nigeria for the past one month to monitor the level of preparation for the general elections.

She added that the union currently had 40 persons in the field and that on the day of election, no fewer than 120 would be in the field including people from the EU embassies.

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