The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, will deploy 33,783 personnel to provide security in the Ondo State governorship election holding on October 10, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, has said.
Stating this during a stakeholders’ meeting with political parties, traditional rulers election observers, among others in Akure the Ondo State capital, Adamu said the Force would deploy 30,933 conventional police personnel and 2,850 special agents for the exercise.
He added that the police deployment would also be complemented by an additional 3,500 manpower to be drawn from other security agencies.
The IGP said, “The military will be engaged for the purpose of securing the state’s borders while the Nigeria Police Air Wing will be provide air surveillance.
“The personnel shall be deployed to adequately secure the 3,009 polling units in the 203 wards in the 18 local government areas of the state.
“They are to protect the personnel and assets of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the electorate and residents of Ondo State in general before, during and after the election.”
Justifying the rationale behind the huge deployment, Adamu said that the Force drew from the experience garnered at the just-concluded governorship election in Edo State and proactive response to the outcome of intelligence analyses gathered on Ondo State’s governorship elections.
He added that the deployment was equally to deny misguided political actors, who might be bent on jeopardising the election procedure, through acts that are not in consonance with the Electoral Act, the pleasure of manifesting their ignoble traits.
Adamu added that the deployment will also send strong signal that the police and other security agencies are resolute to bring recalcitrant characters threatening the electoral process to justice, no matter their status in the society or political affiliation.
He added, “I hereby warn violence mongers to immediately desist from their uncharitable deviant activities or be prepared to face the consequences.
“I call on all the political parties to embrace the virtues of democracy by regarding elections as a call to service of the people and not ‘a do-or-die’ affair.
“I implore parents and guardians to counsel their children and wards to resist the unprofitable urge of being recruited by any politician for thuggery and other acts of violence.”
