AHEAD of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has ordered the withdrawal of all officers attached to very important persons (VIPs) in the state.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Johnson Kokumo, who is in charge of policing for the poll, gave the order at a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.
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Kokomo directed that all the affected officers be withdrawn and asked to return to base for the election.
“All policemen attached to VIPs should be withdrawn and made to return to base for the election,” he said.
He noted that more than 17,000 police officers had been deployed to the 16 Local Government Areas of the state for security and not intimidation.
“Over 17,000 police operatives deployed for the Ekiti poll are meant to secure the state and not for any form of intimidation of citizens, but to secure lives and the rule of law.”
While appealing to residents to be law abiding, Kokumo added that soldiers had been deployed to borders of communities within the state to prevent intruders from coming in.
Meanwhile, the state police command has released two dedicated phone numbers for complaints and emergency during the election.
The numbers, according to the state Police Spokesperson Sunday Abutu, were as follows: 09021198809, 07059119144.
To ensure security during the election, The ICIR had reported that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba ordered the deployment of more than 30 top senior officials and high-powered machine assets to the state.
Top officers deployed include an AIG, four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIG), three Commissioners of Police, five Deputy Commissioners of Police and 18 Assistant Commissioners of Police.
The police chief also directed that four helicopters, five Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), and four Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) should be deployed for the poll.
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