Nigeria’s Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has said the police is fully prepared to confront any security breech that will arise before, during and after the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States
Egbetokun said this during a pressing briefing with strategic stakeholders in the country’s security space.
The briefing afforded the IGP to hint on the policies and achievements of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) since he took up the role as Acting IGP five weeks ago.
The meeting according to the IGP was to acquaint participants some of the police plans on policing the off-season election that will be held simultaneously.
He said, “We are going to leverage on the fact that the elections are limited to just three states to deploy adequately for this election.
“Just as you have seen in other isolated elections in Nigeria, you will see that we have availability of men more in number than what we used to have in general elections.
“So, I have no fear and nobody should entertain any fair about how safe and secure the elections are going to be in November.
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“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.
According to the Acting IGP, the Force’s annual retreat will be held in one of the states where the election will take place.
“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 the Force has been able to achieve relative calm over the last one month amid the current tension in the country.
“Comparatively, we have recorded lesser number of violent crimes and other major offences across the country.
“ We are all aware of recent government efforts toward economic recovery and growth through local and international engagements with investors and technocrats.
“The Nigeria Police Force is poised to support the efforts of government by providing the needed security and enabling environment for all legitimate businesses and other economic activities in Nigeria,” he said.
“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.
