Poll: 30, 009 policemen for North-East, Ebonyi, Imo

The Nigerian Police have deployed 30,009 police personnel in the North-East, Imo and Ebonyi states.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, has deployed no fewer than 20, 000 police personnel for the general elections in the North-East.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Hillari Okpara, who is to coordinate security activities in the North-Eastern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, gave the hint on Friday in Bauchi.

He said the policemen had been trained and adequately motivated for effective service delivery.

Okpara urged voters to feel free to cast their votes, but asked them to stay away from polling units at least 200 metres after they must have voted.

“We have provided adequate security for the electorate, local and international observers,” he said.

On allegation by the All Progressives Congress that the Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, had recruited over 3,000 vigilantes and kitted them to intimidate voters, the police boss said only statutorily empowered security agencies would monitor the election.

The police also deployed 4,009 personnel in Ebonyi State. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Dikko Maigari, told journalists in Abakaliki that some police officers were mobilised from force headquarters, Abuja and Zone six, Calabar, to the state command for the election security.

He said, “Security operatives drawn from the Nigerian Army and other para-military forces have been evenly redeployed to all nook and crannies of the three senatorial zones of the state.

“Registration Area Councils, polling booths and collation centres will be manned by sufficient number of armed and unarmed security operatives where necessary.”

About 6,000 police personnel were also deployed to protect 3, 523 polling centres in Imo State.

The spokesman for the state police command, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, said adequate preparation had been made to ensure a violence-free poll.

He said, “We were prepared before the postponement of the general elections, which were initially scheduled for February 14 and 28.

“We are receiving vehicular logistics from the police headquarters. Also we have put adequate measures in place to identify volatile areas.”