By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, has lauded the efforts of officers and men of Nigeria Police Force for their brilliant performances in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections across the country. The Police Boss gave this commendation when he held a meeting recently with four (4) Strategic Police Managers comprising Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and heads of tactical investigative and operational units of the Force at the Goodluck Jonathan’s Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, based on the officers posted for elections security management duties.
In a press statement by CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi mnipr, mipra, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, and made available to newsmen, the Police Boss used the opportunity to appraise and identify gaps and further, perfect the action plan for the forthcoming March 11th elections just as he applauded the high level of resilience, and utmost professionalism displayed by officers and men of the Nigeria Police as well as other security agencies in the course of the election security operations in line with the reviewed standard operational guidelines and rules for Police Officers and other security agents on electoral duties which were issued to all officers in the countdown to the election operations.
The statement added that the IGP equally attributed the professionalism of the officers to the various pre-election pieces of training, meticulous planning, massive operational assets procurement and deployment, as well as prioritized welfare.
The statement added that, the IGP noted that about one hundred and eighty-five (185) major incidents were responded to by the Police across the country during the elections, while a total of two hundred and three (203) offenders linked to various electoral offences and sundry crimes have so far been arrested, and eighteen (18) firearms of various calibres were recovered from political thugs during the exercise.
The Police Boss emphasized that the cases are at various stages of investigation at the Nigeria Police Electoral Offences’ Desks and assured that they would be concluded and processed to the Legal Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission for prosecution.
Part of the statement reads:” Furthermore, the IGP noted that about one hundred and eighty-five (185) major incidents were responded to by the Police across the country during the elections, while a total of two hundred and three (203) offenders linked to various electoral offences and sundry crimes have so far been arrested, and eighteen (18) firearms of various calibres were recovered from political thugs during the exercise”.
The Inspector-General of Police therefore reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to evolving pathways to incrementally strengthen the Force’s operational capacity and professional knowledge in navigating through the complex electoral process dynamics to police the democratic heritage and meet the expectations of the electorates.