By Gowon Emakpe
To guarantee conducive and enabling environment in the forthcoming Ekiti State Governorship election, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the mobilization and deployment of adequate police personnel, Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, technical capabilities of the Police Air wing, the Force Marine, Mounted Troops, K-9 Section, and other operational assets.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID who is the supervisory DIG for the South-West Geo-Political Zone, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, has been deployed to Ekiti State as the Coordinator of the security component for the elections slated for June, 18, 2022.
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said the security arrangement includes the deployment of selected seasoned Strategic Commanders from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above for effective supervision of security personnel and operations in the Election.
According to him, DIG Kokumo is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment devoid of violence and to guarantee law abiding citizens of secured freedom to perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.
“DIG Kokumo will be assisted by four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police AIGs, three Commissioners of Police CPs, five Deputy Commissioners of Police DCPs and eighteen Assistant Commissioners of Police ACPs”, he explained.
The statement added that the Senior Officers are to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three Senatorial Districts, sixteen Local Government Areas and the 2445 polling units in Ekiti State.
The IGP noted that the Force has carried out these necessary operational deployments as part of actions aimed at creating a conducive and enabling environment that will guarantee the peaceful and proper conduct of the election in Ekiti State.
The IGP further noted that the personnel, comprising conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Unit EOD, Force Intelligence Bureau FIB, INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit SPU, Force Public Relations Department FPRD, as well as Police Medical Teams, will be on ground to guarantee free, fair, credible and acceptable election. In addition, five Armored Personnel Carriers for patrol as well as four helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs for aerial surveillance amongst other unique operational capabilities.
Baba, reassures the nation and the international community that the Force is adequately prepared for the Gubernatorial Election in Ekiti State which is scheduled to hold on June 18, 2022.
He reiterated that the Force will do everything within its powers to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and all stakeholders to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC officials, equipment, accredited observers, both domestic and international, and other key players in Ekiti State.
