AHEAD of the Osun State governorship election, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has barred the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, as well as other quasi-security groups and private security organisations from participating in election-security duties.
News Point Nigeria reports that the IGP also reaffirmed the ban on armed escorts, security aides and other unauthorised persons accompanying political figures or VIPs to polling units or collation centres on election day.
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Disu warned political actors, their supporters and “all intending troublemakers” that ballot snatching, voter intimidation, political thuggery and every other electoral offence would attract prompt arrest and prosecution.
“State-established security outfits, quasi-security groups, and private security organisations are equally barred from election-security duties, consistent with established NPF election-security directives,” Disu said in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the IGP has deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Ishyaku Mohammed, to Osun State to coordinate security operations for the governorship election scheduled for Saturday.
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The deployment, according to the Nigeria Police Force, forms part of its operational measures aimed at ensuring a peaceful, secure and credible electoral process across the state.
DIG Mohammed is expected to coordinate the police component of the election-security arrangement and work closely with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
“He will be supported by Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police strategically deployed across the State’s three senatorial districts to supervise operations, strengthen intelligence-led policing, and ensure prompt response to emerging threats.
“The Force has put in place adequate security arrangements for the protection of voters, INEC personnel, election materials, polling units, collation centres, accredited observers, and media practitioners before, during, and after the election,” the statement added.
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The police reassured residents, voters and visitors in the state of adequate security and urged all eligible citizens to exercise their franchise peacefully and without fear.
The Force further reiterated its commitment to professionalism, neutrality, respect for human rights and the protection of the electoral process.
