The Nigerian Police have said a total of 22,239 police officers will be deployed to Ondo State for the coverage of the 16 November governorship election.
The figure is besides the deployments from other security agencies including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), among others.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbedokun, at a political stakeholders meeting on Thursday in Akure, said a synergy of all the security agencies would be required through normal and covert operations, provide the effective security during the elections.
The IGP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Abiodun Asabi, noted that with security agencies performing their roles in a fair and orderly manner, will certainly reduce the security threats to the barest minimum, with a far reaching effect on the credibility of the election.
He said: “The Nigeria Police and other supporting security agencies responsible to provide security in the forthcoming election have a responsibility to solidly synergise and work as a formidable team to identify and nip in the bud, all security threats, provide tight security at the polling stations as well as all the public spaces within the state.
“Security of the voters, the electoral officials, the electoral materials and the general public will have to be effectively provided before, during and after the election.”
The IGP also ppealed to all stakeholders to “eschew violence, avoid the do-or-die approach, do not employ thuggery and play the game according to the rules with sportsmanship spirit that will enable the loser to lose gallantly and the winner to be magnanimous in victory.”
He also warned that violators of electoral laws run the risk of diligent prosecution.
“On our part as security agencies, we promise to leave no stone unturned in order to provide hitch-free, and conducive atmosphere prior, during and the post election security at the conclusion of the process. We shall ensure that the success recorded in the Edo Election will be improved upon,” he added.
