IGP Talks Tough Over Guber Polls - FOW 24 NEWS

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IGP Talks Tough Over Guber Polls

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has said that two police officers were killed during the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections, while some others who were assaulted sustained various degrees of injuries.....

Adamu also said that 323 persons were arrested for various electoral offenses and sundry crimes across the country during the polls.
This is just as the IGP has warned political actors planning to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the governorship elections to play by the rules or face the music.
Adamu made this known during his meeting with officers from the rank of commissioners of police and above, held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
He said: “Two officers paid the supreme sacrifice, while some others were assaulted and injured.
“It is noted that updated statistics resulting from presidential and National Assembly elections showed that a total of 323 offenders have so far been arrested for various electoral offences and sundry crimes across the country.”
The meeting was the first to be held by the IGP with commissioners and above after the February 23 elections.
The IGP said the meeting was to “debrief strategic police commanders and undertake a comprehensive evaluation of our performance during the presidential and National Assembly elections, which were held nationwide on February 23, perfect our plans and allocate operational tasks towards the governorship and state assembly elections scheduled for March 9, and to appreciate personnel of the force across all ranks for their sacrifice, discipline, and exceptional professionalism, which was demonstrated during the elections.”
While expressing his condolences and that of the entire police force to the families of the officers who lost their lives during the elections and those who sustained injuries, the IGP assured them that the perpetrators of the evil acts would be fished out and brought to deserved justice, no matter their socio-political status.
Continuing, the IGP said: “For those arrested for various electoral infractions, I have directed the Special Electoral Offences Team of the force to undertake detailed and conclusive investigations into all the cases with a view to liaising with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure their prosecution.
Speaking on the preparations for the governorship and state assembly elections, the IGP said: “We have perfect our plans and I also want to reassure the nation and the international community of the unwavering commitment of the police to work closely with INEC and sister security agencies towards guaranteeing a peaceful and secure space for Nigerians to exercise their electoral franchise.
“l must, however, re-emphasize that, just as in the recently concluded presidential and National Assembly elections, the Nigeria Police shall remain civil, firm, optimally professional and apolitical in the discharge of our duties on March 9. We shall, nonetheless, deploy all lawful assets and assert our statutory powers to deal decisively, firmly, and promptly with any person or groups that may attempt to disrupt the process.
“Therefore, all political actors who might be preparing to threaten the peaceful conduct of the exercise are hereby firmly warned to play the game of politics by the rules as stipulated in the Electoral Act and to appreciate that national interest overrides their personal ambitions.
“Doing otherwise shall attract the full and appropriate response from the Police and other security agencies.”
Meanwhile, Adamu, has blamed the Electoral Act as a reason why police personnel deployed to provide security at polling units during elections do not carry arms.
Adamu, who acknowledged that in some cases hoodlums disrupted the electoral processes in some states of the federation during the February 23 presidential and National Assembly polls, said the the police personnel posted there were handicapped and could not do much because they were unarmed.
Besides, he said that deploying armed policemen to polling units would scare prospective voters from performing their civic responsibilities.
The IGP made this known while answering questions from journalists over cases of destruction and snatching of ballot boxes, among other electoral offenses perpetrated by hoodlums during the February 23 elections.
He said the situation would continue to remain so for now.
“However, armed men will be within the vicinity of the unit for patrol in order to prevent touts and others from disrupting the electoral process because, if we send armed policemen to the polling units, the electorate may be afraid to go close to the polling units to cast their votes and that is not encouraged. 
“In fact, internationally, it is not encouraged. So, there will be no armed personnel within the units,” he said.
IGP Talks Tough Over Guber Polls Reviewed by FOW 24 News on March 05, 2019 Rating: 5 The  Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has said that two police officers were killed during the February 23 presidential...

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