The Nigeria Police Force says it has put comprehensive security measures in place for Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, with helicopters, drones, Mobile Police officers and other operatives deployed across the state.
The assurance was given on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Okokon Iniedu, during a briefing at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo after addressing officers drafted for the election.
Iniedu said the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, directed the Force to ensure the election is peaceful, credible and free, while safeguarding lives and property.
He also warned against vote-buying, saying offenders would be arrested and prosecuted immediately.
“Vote buying is an electoral malpractice and we will not tolerate any form of vote buying in Osun State,” he said.
“The IGP has directed the Deputy Inspector General in charge of the election to ensure that anybody caught in the process of vote-buying be arrested and prosecuted immediately. Like the DIG even said this morning, we will treat electoral offences decisively in this election.”
Iniedu further assured voters, INEC officials and other election stakeholders of the neutrality of security agencies.
“The directive of the federal police is that we conduct a secure, safe and seamless election.”
The FPRO said aerial surveillance had already begun, with police air assets on ground.
“As we speak, our air components have arrived, our Helicopter and Drone Units are on ground and they have commenced surveillance patrols across the state,” he said.
He added that one unit of the Police Mobile Force had been deployed to each of the 30 local government areas.
For INEC, “we have two units of combat-ready armed MOPOL personnel,” while “seven units of Special Protection Unit personnel” will handle the movement of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials and protect electoral officers.
Additional armed MOPOL personnel have been stationed at the command headquarters for rapid response. Patrol teams and checkpoints have also been set up across the state.
Iniedu said the IGP ordered that four unarmed security personnel be posted to each polling unit.
“For this election too, the IGP has directed that we post four unarmed personnel to each polling booth. Osun State has over 3,700 polling units, we’ll be having four law enforcement personnel at each of these units for the elections.”
He noted that threat assessments had been conducted in all LGAs and personnel deployed based on risk levels. Covert operatives in mufti will also be on the ground for intelligence gathering.
“Apart from the men you’re seeing here on uniform, well-armed and gallant, ready for the elections, we also have covert operatives in mufti moving around the cities, moving around the nooks and crannies of Osun State to ensure adequate information and intelligence for necessary action,” he said.
Iniedu announced that the state would be under a movement restriction from 12am on Friday.
“I would like to use this opportunity to assure citizens of Osun State that the police are on top of the game and we have everywhere covered. By 12 midnight on Friday into Saturday, we will be locking down the town. We will be stopping vehicular movement at all locations in the state.”
Speaking on security incidents, Iniedu said the command had not received reports of fresh killings, but acknowledged earlier cases of cult clashes and what were described as politically motivated attacks.
“We have not received any recent complaints of killings. But prior to this time, we had received complaints of cult clashes and some pockets of killings that were described as politically motivated,” he said.
He added that some cases were still under investigation while others had been charged to court.
“The role of the police is to investigate, get details of the incidents and charge them to court. And so a few of them are under investigation, a few of them have been charged to court. But as we proceed, I will give you actual updates on the details.”