The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ishyaku Mohammed, to Osun State to coordinate police operations ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The deployment is part of efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen security and ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process across the state.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to the statement, Mohammed will coordinate the police component of the election security arrangement and work with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
He will be supported by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and a Commissioner of Police deployed across the state’s three senatorial districts to supervise operations, enhance intelligence gathering and ensure swift responses to emerging security threats.
The police said adequate measures had also been put in place to protect voters, electoral officials, election materials, polling and collation centres, accredited observers and journalists before, during and after the election.
The IGP warned political parties, candidates, supporters and other individuals against actions capable of disrupting the election, stressing that offences such as ballot snatching, voter intimidation and political thuggery would be met with arrest and prosecution.
Disu also reiterated the prohibition of armed escorts, security aides and other unauthorised persons accompanying politicians or VIPs to polling units and collation centres on election day.
The Force further warned that state-backed security outfits, quasi-security groups and private security organisations would not be allowed to participate in election security duties.
The police urged residents and voters in Osun State to participate in the election peacefully and without fear.
The August 15 governorship election is expected to feature 14 candidates, including the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke.
