Furthering the usual routine which positive outcome remains to be seen, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced on Wednesday that 35,000 police officers will be deployed across Edo State for the September 21 governorship election.
Additionally, 8,000 personnel from sister security agencies, including the armed forces and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), will be mobilized to support the police.
He also confirmed that security aides assigned to VIPs will be withdrawn to ensure neutrality and security.
Egbetokun stated this at the stakeholders meeting as part of activities ahead of the election organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where its chairman, Professor Mamhud Yakubu announced that former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar was already in town presiding over the signing of the peace pact between contending parties and their candidates on Thursday.
The event had the representatives of the 17 participating political parties, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), representatives of the palace of the Oba of Benin, civil society groups and others.
In his remarks, Egbetokun also said the suspension of the activities of quasi-security organizations like the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and others set up by the state government to check insecurity remain suspended and that they have no role to play on the day of election.
He said security aides attached to VIPs would also be withdrawn even as he reeled out the various election offences and warned that anyone caught against them would be treated according to the law.
According to him, “It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that elections take place and trhe security of all is the responsibility of the police and it will be supported by other security agencies to ensure safety. We understand the importance of our role in this election and we will ensure that everything is done in compliance with that.
“We will deploy sufficient personnel for the election. For the Edo state governorship election, we will deploy 35,000 personnel, there will be another 8,000 from other security agencies to complement us. We have undertaken several measures including a tour of hot spots, engaging stakeholders and operational visits and we will continuously engage all.”
He said all entry and exit points in the state would manned while movements would be restricted between 6 am and 6 pm and urged the political leaders to warn their members against any form of violence.
