Abuja – Ahead of the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba has deployed the Deputy Inspector- General (DIG) of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Mr Johnson Kokumo to the state.
Kokumo is deployed to coordinate and take charge of the state security before, during and after the governorship election.
A statement on Sunday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed the deployment of Kokumo and other top police officers to Ekiti State.
Kokumo is also the Supervisory DIG in charge of South West to Ekiti State.
“DIG Kokumo will be assisted by four (4) Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), three (3) Commissioners of Police (CPs), five (5) Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and eighteen (18) Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).
“The Senior Officers are to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three (3) Senatorial Districts, sixteen (16) Local Government Areas and the 2, 445 polling units in Ekiti State,” Adejobi said in the statement.
According to him, DIG Kokumo will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment devoid of violence and to guarantee law abiding citizens of secured environment to freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.
The IGP also approved the mobilisation and deployment of adequate police personnel, Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), technical capabilities of the Police Air wing, the Force Marine, Mounted Troops, K-9 Section, and other operational assets for the election.
This, according to the police, includes the deployment of selected seasoned Strategic Commanders from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above for effective supervision of security personnel and operations during the election.
Adejobi quoted the IGP as saying that the force carried out the necessary operational deployments as part of actions aimed at creating a conducive and enabling environment that will guarantee the peaceful and proper conduct of the election in Ekiti State.
” He further ordered that the personnel, comprising conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit (SPU), Force Public Relations Department (FPRD), as well as Police Medical Teams, will be on ground to guarantee free, fair, credible and acceptable election.
” IGP said five (5) Armored Personnel Carriers for patrol as well as four (4) helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for aerial surveillance amongst other unique operational capabilities will also be deployed,” he said.
The said that the IGP assured the nation and the international community that the Force is adequately prepared for the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.
“Baba reiterated that the force will do everything within its powers to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC officials, equipment, accredited observers, both domestic and international, and other key players in Ekiti State.
“The IGP admonished the people of Ekiti State to be law-abiding and comply with the restriction of movement order which will be announced by the Commissioner of Police as and when due.
“He also called on the people of Ekiti State to come out en-masse and exercise their franchise as adequate security has been put in place by the Police and other security agencies to protect them before, during and after the election,” the statement said. (vitalnewsngr.com)
