Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase, has orderd water-tight security in Kogi ahead of the November 21 gubernatorial election in the state. He has also directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Department of Operations, DIG Sotonye L. Wakama, to relocate to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, “so as to ensure adequate police presence and coordination of all security operations for the election in all polling units and collation centres in the state,” Force Public Relations Officer, Ag. ACP Olabisi Kolawole, said.

“While directing the deployment of Marine Police, Anti-Bomb, Counter Terrorism Unit, Police Mobile Force, Force Intelligence Unit and Mounted Troop to complement the conventional Police manpower deployed for the election, the Inspector-General of Police also directed the AIG in charge of the Police Air Wing to deploy the Force’s helicopter for aerial patrol before, during and after the election on Saturday,” Ag. ACP Kolawole said in a statement.

She assured Nigerian citizens, especially indigenes of Kogi State, of the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to provide effective security and ensure a smooth and orderly conduct of the election.

The Force Spokesperson said IGP Arase has warned all trouble-makers and anti-social elements to stay away from Kogi State throughout the period of the election “as the police will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any person, no matter how highly placed in society, who flouts the law or causes a breach of the peace.”

She said the IGP also ordered all Police officers assigned to election duties in Kogi State to ensure they work in line with the Police Code of Conduct and international best practices, while calling on the members of the public particularly politicians, gubernatorial candidates and other relevant stakeholders in the state to cooperate with the police and other security agencies in the onerous but patriotic task of guaranteeing a hitch-free gubernatorial poll.

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