Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba Alkali has said the Force is training 10,000 operatives in police colleges across Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The IGP added the trainees would pass out this month and would be deployed to augment the police strength nationwide for the 2023 election duties.

Alkali said this in Ilorin, Kwara state capital at a distinguished personality lecture organised by the Alh-Hikmah University.

The lecture is entitled: “Engendering security and public safety among stakeholders towards peaceful 2023 general elections in Nigeria.”

Represented by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Zone 8, Asafa Adekunle, the police chief urged all parties and their supporters to redirect their conduct and activities to enhance free, fair, transparent and credible elections come 2023.

He said: “Police are engaging stakeholders in a series of meetings, seminars for them to know the importance of conducting the 2023 general elections in a peaceful atmosphere.

“On no account should personnel deployed to the inner ring of the venue of the political events or voting centre/polling booths by assigned lethal weapon, except baton: involvement of the police at political gatherings shall be limited to the maintenance of peace and order and enforcement of extant laws.

“Officers shall at all times exercise maximum restrain while covering political gatherings.

“Stakeholders should encourage Nigerian youths to always explore dialogue and negotiations as strategies to achieve their goals rather than violence and destruction.

“All security personnel participating in the election should have the knowledge of election procedures at the venues.

“To ensure the public safety and peaceful conduct of 2023 general elections in Nigeria all stakeholders like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), police force, political parties, civil society organisations, voters and the media need to play collaborative role in preventing and reducing elections violence.” (The Nation)