Daud Olatunji
The Nigeria Police Force has deployed more than 15,000 personnel, 30 Commissioners of Police and specialised surveillance assets ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
The police also announced the deployment of a Deputy Inspector-General of Police to coordinate the security operations, while helicopters and drones will be used to monitor the state before, during and immediately after the poll.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this on Thursday in Osogbo while briefing journalists on the security preparations for the election.
The massive deployment covers the state’s 30 local government areas, with the police saying it commenced the movement of personnel and equipment about three weeks before the election.
Iniedu said each local government area would have a Mobile Police Force unit comprising about 60 armed personnel, while additional formations would be stationed at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osogbo.
He said each local government would also have a Commissioner of Police and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, alongside a Mobile Police Commander and a PMF commander of Assistant Commissioner of Police rank.
“We have deployed armed mobile policemen to every local government area in the state. So, we have 30 units across 30 local government areas. A unit is about 60 policemen,” Iniedu said.
He added that two additional PMF units had been deployed to the INEC headquarters in Osogbo to protect election materials and personnel.
According to him, police helicopters and drone units had arrived in Osogbo and would commence aerial surveillance ahead of the poll.
“As of Thursday, our helicopters and drone units have arrived in Osogbo, and they will be conducting area surveillance from now, during and immediately after the elections,” he said.
The police spokesman further disclosed that security agencies would restrict vehicular movement into and out of Osun as part of measures to prevent the movement of suspected political thugs and other troublemakers.
He said the Army would cordon off border routes leading into the state from midnight on Saturday.
“We will be locking down the state. We will not be allowing any vehicular movement apart from those on essential duty, security duties and those going to cast their franchise,” he said.
The security arrangement comes as candidates of the Accord Party, All Progressives Alliance and African Democratic Congress, including Governor Ademola Adeleke, Bola Oyebamiji and Najeem Salaam, respectively, intensify their campaigns for the state’s top political office.
Iniedu warned residents, particularly parents, to caution their children and wards against involvement in electoral offences.
He listed intimidation, stalking, vote-buying and ballot-box snatching among offences that would attract prosecution.
The police spokesman said security agencies would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone found violating the law during the election.
He also disclosed that a mobile court would be available to handle cases involving suspects arrested for alleged electoral offences.
Meanwhile, the police said they had recovered about 34 illegal firearms in the state as part of efforts to prevent violence before the election.
Iniedu, however, said the specific details and categories of the recovered weapons were still being collated, adding that investigations were ongoing.
“We don’t have specific details about the guns we have mopped up, but I know that in Osun State, so far, we have mopped up about 34 illegal firearms, and investigations are ongoing,” he said.
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