- Says: We Are Ready To Collaborate With Other Security Agencies To Secure Oyo, Osun States
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11 comprising Oyo and Osun States, Mr. Akande Sikiru kayode has reiterated his readiness to provide adequate security in the zone during and after the general elections.
Sikiru stated this while featuring on a special programme aired live on Splash 105.5FM Ibadan and anchored by Olayinka Agboola and Oluwaseun Akinola on Wednesday.
The AIG who spoke on his antecedents as a Police Officer who has worked in the North East part of Nigeria, stated that he would use his experience effectively to secure the two states that made up the zone.
“I have been a warrior on the field, fought in Nigeria, abroad, and fought many battles. I’m just coming in from the North East where the challenges of the Boko Harams are being tackled. But it is homecoming for me; what I’ve been able to do outside, I will do more back home,” he said.
Speaking on Saturday’s elections, the AIG explained that enough Police Officers would be deployed to secure and monitor the electoral exercise across the two states.
“Luckily for me, I have a reliable and dependable ally in the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adebowale Williams. I will say it here that I have been working together on and off with Mr Williams since 1991, I will say we’ve been doing this business of securing the environment since then. We have done our threat analysis, we’ve done our operational assessment, and by the grace of Almighty God, we are deploying effectively across the two states that make the zone two days before the elections.
“We are battle ready to ensure that anybody who is not ready to play by the rules will be put where he or she belongs.”
When asked of the number of officers deployed for the election, he said, “It is operationally wrong for me to tell you the strength I have because as I’m telling you what it is, those who would want to use that same information to cause disaffection in the polity will take advantage of it.
“But I want to assure you that we have enough men that will cover all the polling booths in the two states. We have enough men that would go around to give people the confidence that they need. We have enough men who are manning the sky because security has become technologically driven and we are not left behind in the drive. If anybody thinks it’s going to be the normal baton and cane policing, they are going to have it wrong because we are deploying a lot of artificial sciences to manage this election, to ensure the mandate of Mr. President for us security agencies to deliver free, fair, credible and internationally acceptable 2023 general election.”
Also speaking, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adebowale Williams who spoke on the cordial relationship existing between the Police and Amotekun operatives in the state, noted that the two security establishments have recorded many breakthroughs while securing the state.
“As we always say, security is not for one person. As a matter of fact, Police cannot do it alone. We are lucky to have Amotekun, we are working together, and so many breakthroughs have been made as a result of the cordial relationship. By the grace of God, we will sustain it.”
While speaking on ballot snatching, the AIG emphasized that the new Electoral Law signed by the President prohibits ballot snatching or all forms of electoral violence, and anyone caught in the act would be dealt with in accordance to the law.
Speaking on his plans for the two states, Akande said that his focus is to re-invigorate the policing system in the zone after the coming elections.
“My major focus for now is to ensure that the general elections are held successfully. So, all that we need to do to ensure that we have a free, fair and credible election is what we are doing. The moment we finish election, it’s going to be a different ball game. Luckily like I said, we have very resourceful Police officers who are within this zone. We are going to re-engineer and re-invigorate our policing system.
“We’ve created four levels of securing the zone: the Divisional level, the Area Commander’s level, the State Command level and then the Zonal Command level. We are working in synergy with all security forces to ensure that together, we secure this election and thereafter we roll out a comprehensive plan that will make everyone in this zone sleep with their two eyes closed. When we are done, I know the people of Oyo and Osun will appreciate the services that we would have rendered.”
The AIG, who urged the people of the Zone to support the Police by having confidence in them, emphasized on the need for Police officers to be proactive in the discharge of their duties.
“A lot of us have to do the right thing- we are working very hard to ensure that there is secured environment so that when we leave service too, we can live peacefully like other members of the society.”
He, therefore, urged politicians to abide by the Electoral Laws and avoid using words that may cause crisis or civil unrest in the society, as anyone caught in such act would be arrested.
He also advised youths to stay off electoral violence, saying the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force should not be undermined or underrated.
Among the entourage of the AIG were Oyo State Commissioner of Police; Adebowale Williams, DC Zonal CID; DCP Nange Ogbono Itam, ACP Ekanem Usen, PPRO Oyo State; SP Adewale Osifeso, CSP Ayeni Benjamin Adekunle among others.
Packaged by Miracle Ogunde
