Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo polls: Take pictures of officers without tag on election day – IGP

The Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, has called on Nigerians to take pictures of any police personnel on election duty without a tag on.

He made the call while speaking on Channels Television’s and Kimpact Development Initiative’s joint People’s Townhall on Election Security on Sunday night, a few days before the November 11 off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states.

When the anchor of the programme asked if Nigerians could take pictures of police personnel on illegal duty and send them to the management of the Nigeria Police Force for prompt action, the IGP responded in the affirmative.

Egbetokun said “no police officer is expected to provide an escort on Election Day”, adding that any personnel found escorting any politician to the polling stations on election day is on illegal duty.

He said: “Policemen who provide escort to VIPs are not supposed to provide that escort on the election day. Election day is an exemption from that duty for them. So, no VIP will be allowed to move around with a police escort on the day of election and anyone that does that is violating the electoral law and is liable to prompt arrest.”

The IGP warned that the Force would not spare any personnel caught breaking the law on election day, noting that allowances for security personnel on election duties had been approved.

He also warned criminals to steer clear of voting units, threatening that anyone caught violating electoral laws would be arrested and prosecuted.

The IGP assured that the police would reduce incidences of violence on election day as personnel have been adequately trained for the job at hand.

“We are ready for this election, we have been able to deploy adequately for this election. In Bayelsa, we will be covering 2,224 polling units and we have enough men and resources to cover those polling units,” he stated.

“We have also made adequate arrangements for both Imo and Kogi. We have done our threat assessments, and we already know how to carry out our deployments which we have already done.

“I want to assure you that the police and other security agencies are ready for this election and we are sure it is going to be hitch-free,” he said.