The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ishyaku Mohammed, to Osun State to coordinate security operations for the August 15 governorship election.
The deployment is part of measures by the Nigeria Police Force to ensure a peaceful, secure and credible electoral process across the state.
Mohammed will coordinate the police component of the election security arrangement and work with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
He will be supported by Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police strategically deployed across Osun State’s three senatorial districts.
According to the Force, the senior officers will supervise security operations, strengthen intelligence-led policing and ensure prompt response to emerging threats before, during and after the election.
The police said adequate security arrangements had also been put in place to protect voters, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, election materials, polling units, collation centres, accredited observers and journalists.
Disu warned political actors, their supporters and other individuals planning to disrupt the election against acts capable of undermining the electoral process.
“Ballot snatching, voter intimidation, political thuggery and every other electoral offence will attract prompt arrest and prosecution,” the Force said in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu.
The IGP also reiterated the ban on armed escorts, security aides and other unauthorised persons accompanying political figures or VIPs to polling units and collation centres on election day.
The Force further warned that state-established security outfits, quasi-security groups and private security organisations were not authorised to participate in election security operations.
The police said the directive was consistent with established Nigeria Police Force guidelines for election security.
The Force reassured residents, voters and visitors to Osun State of adequate security throughout the electoral process, urging eligible voters to exercise their franchise peacefully and without fear.
It added that the police remained committed to professionalism, neutrality, respect for human rights and the protection of the integrity of the electoral process.
