By Amos Okioma
Ahead of the November 16 governorship elections, the police say they have deployed a total of 66,241 of their personnel for the governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of operations, Abdulmajid Ali, stated this in a press statement in Yenagoa.
According to him, the brake down shows that a total of 35,200 personnel will be deployed to Kogi state while a total of 31,041 will be deployed to Bayelsa state.
He stated that aside, these ,the police will also involve the conventional police who will be complimented by the special units including the police mobile force , special protection unit, counter-terrorism unit ,special forces, intelligence response unit,special tactical squad, mounted troops and K9 Section.
“There shall also be massive logistics mobilization to support the operations while complimentary forces shall be pooled from sister security agencies.
“Also in order to ensure an effective command and control framework, the IGP of police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has ordered the posting of very senior police officers including, DIGs, AIGs, CPs, DCPs and ACPs to all senatorial districts and local government areas within the two states to monitor security arrangements during elections.”
He also disclosed that as parts of actions directed at policing the entry and exit points into both states from contiguous states shall be closed as from 12am ( midnight) of 16th November 2019.
“There shall also be restrictions within the two states as from 6am to 4pm of November 16th 2019 with the exemption of those on election duties and essential services.
“Furthermore , the IGP of police has directed that with effect from Friday 15th November, 2019, all security aides attached to the governors, their deputies and other public office holders, politicians and other personality involved in the elections in the two states be withdrawn until conclusion of the elections,” he said.