The Nigeria Police Force has announced a statewide restriction of movement in Osun State from midnight on Friday as security agencies finalise deployment for Saturday’s governorship election.
The restriction is part of measures being implemented to secure the election and facilitate the deployment of personnel and electoral materials across the state’s 30 local government areas.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this on Friday during a briefing at the Osun State Police Command Headquarters, Osogbo, where he gave an update on security deployment across the state’s 30 local government areas.
“We will be locking down the state. We will not be allowing any vehicular movement apart from those on essential duty, security duties and those going to cast their franchise,” Iniedu said.
Iniedu said the police had deployed air surveillance assets, including helicopters and drones, to patrol the state ahead of the poll.
He added that a police mobile force unit had been deployed to each local government area, with each unit placed under the command of an assistant commissioner of police serving as squadron commander.
According to him, the units will operate under the supervision of commissioners of police and deputy commissioners of police.
The police spokesperson also disclosed that two units of combat-ready armed PMF personnel had been deployed to the Independent National Electoral Commission office in the state.
He said seven detachments of special protection unit personnel had equally been assigned to escort electoral materials and protect INEC officials during the election.
Iniedu assured residents that the police would remain neutral throughout the electoral process, stressing that their constitutional responsibility was to protect lives and property.
He appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that underage children did not participate in voting or electoral violence, while urging eligible voters to come out and exercise their franchise.
According to him, adequate security arrangements had been put in place to protect voters and other participants in the election.
On vote buying, Iniedu said the Inspector-General of Police had directed election supervisors to arrest and prosecute anyone caught engaging in the practice.
The FPRO also disclosed that a 24-hour call centre had been activated to receive complaints about misconduct by police officers deployed for election duties.
He assured the public that officers found guilty of violating electoral laws would be investigated and appropriately sanctioned.
Responding to questions about a shooting incident reported in the state on Thursday, Iniedu said the command had yet to receive an official update on the incident.
He, however, promised that details would be provided at the next security briefing.
The police spokesman said the command had previously received reports of clashes and politically motivated attacks in parts of the state.
Some of the cases, he noted, were already before the courts, while investigations into other outstanding incidents were ongoing.
Iniedu further disclosed that the police had engaged political stakeholders and ad-hoc electoral personnel, including members of the National Youth Service Corps, to assure them of their safety throughout the electoral process.
He added that welfare arrangements for police personnel deployed for the election had been fully addressed to enable them to carry out their duties professionally and impartially.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
