Snatch ballot box and ‘pay dearly for it,’ police warn trouble makers ahead of Bayelsa and Kogi elections

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States, the Nigerian Police Force said on Thursday that anyone caught snatching ballot box would not be spared.

The Deputy Inspector- General of Police, Operation, AbdulMajeed Ali, gave the warning when he addressed a press conference on Thursday.

He said the Inspector- General of Police Mohammed Adamu, had deployed personnel good enough to satisfactorily police the states and deal with any eventuality during the election.

He said: “We have enough personnel and capacity to deal with anyone that tried to foment trouble on Saturday. Just watch, if anyone tries to snatch ballot box on Saturday, he will pay dearly for it.

“We are determined to provide the enabling environment for a peaceful election. We are tired of being held to ransom by Kogi and Bayelsa States every election period. We will put a stop to that this time around.”

Ali, who is overseeing the Kogi elections, added that following a security threat assessment carried out by the force in Kogi and Bayelsa, the police authorities have identified possible risks, trouble spots, and classified individuals and groups that could pose security challenges to the process.

“The outcome of this intelligence-driven initiative guided our election deployment plans and informed our post-election security projections,” he added.

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Ali later gave out telephone lines that would be useful during the exercise.

“For any complaints, members of the public are urged to reach the Kogi State’s Joint Operation Room on 08066002020, 08065948693 and 08151532944; and Bayelsa State’s Joint Operation Room on 07034578208 and 09055555803,” the police officer added

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