In spite of various reports of complicity and partisanship against the Nigerian Police and other security agencies in last Saturday’s Rivers State legislative re-run election, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, has expressed satisfaction over the performance of the police officers that took part in the election.
According to IGP Idris, the performance of security operatives in the Rivers re-run election was a further improvement on what obtained during the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.
“The gains of the security personnel’s performance in the Edo and Ondo elections were further concretized in the Rivers re-run elections in the areas of massive deployment of logistics, enabling the process, stakeholders engagement, facilitating voters participation, interagency collaboration and general provision of peace and security in the state before, during and after elections,” the IGP said in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, on Tuesday.
Idris said although some “disgruntled elements” tried to cause violence during the polls “the re-run election was a huge success in contrast to past elections in the state that were usually characterized by violence and wanton destruction of lives and property.”
The IGP acknowledged that “there were some infractions of law in the course of the elections”, but he insisted that “the police and other security agencies rose to the occasion and ensured the electoral process prevailed accordingly.”
He reiterated that the “master plan on election security will continue to be improved upon for future elections in the county.”
“This master plan will usher in credible, fair, free and acceptable elections in accordance with the principles of democratic policing and international best practices,” Idris added.
IGP Idris also lamented “the gruesome death of one of the officers, DSP Mohammed Alkali and others…” still missing.
While condoling with the family of the slain police officer, the IGP said that “a high powered investigation team has been directed to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the officer and submit findings.”
The Police Boss criticized CLEEN Foundation, one of the Non-Governmental Organisations, NGO, involved in monitoring the election exercise, for its report that the elections were “marred by irregularities, large scale violence, professional misconduct and open bias by security operatives and electoral personnel.”
Idris described the report as “entirety lurid, fraught with inaccuracies and lacking in substance.”
He said: “It is a disservice to the evolving Nigerian democracy and sacrifice of the security personnel for the CLEEN Foundation report to assert that, “There were serious cases of electoral violence orchestrated by the Police, Army and DSS.
“It is also saddening for the CLEEN Foundation report to attribute the death of a police officer, DSP Mohammed in the course of duty to what the report termed “unwarranted use of force and shooting.”
“It is a brazen display of insensitivity to the fallen officer and disrespect to the family.”
The IGP stressed that “Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are our veritable partners”, adding that they “should not undermine national interest” while going about their functions.
Idris, while commending the “good people of Rivers State for the cooperation availed the police and other security agencies in the course of the re-run elections” also reassured Nigerians that the “enthronement of credible electoral process remains one of the police’s uppermost priorities.”