By Linus Aleke, Abuja
As part of an effort to ensure seamless elections security, the Inspector General of Police, IGP IGP Usman Alkali, has met with strategic managers of the Nigeria Police Force, comprising Deputy Inspectors General of Police, members of the force management team, Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police across the nation at the Force Headquarters, Abuja to review the internal security of the country and reassess its strategies towards the 2023 General Elections.
This is even as President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday commissioned a wide rage of operational assets acquired by the Nigeria Police Force for improved strategic and tactical operational deployments, especially as it concerns the 2023 General Elections.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this disclosure in a statement in Abuja.
CSP Adejobi said the equipment which includes operational vehicles, crowd control and anti-riot gadgets, as well as high-capacity desktop and laptop computers were acquired to ensure proper enforcement of electoral laws and seamless electioneering process and stabilizing the public space, before, during, and after the general elections.
He added that the modern policing equipment will also, enhance the capacity of the NPF to manage civil disorder in line with acceptable national legal framework and global law enforcement protocols.
The President, he said, commended the efforts of the IGP in advancing the commitment of his administration to a reformed, modernized, fully equipped, highly motivated and citizens focused Police Force that is reoriented to the virtues of professionalism, respect for the rule of law, due process, operational efficiency and best international practices in policing the nation.
The Inspector General of Police during its first quarter conference in Abuja yesterday, tasked the strategic police managers to safeguard the public space for the elections in active synergy with other security agencies.
While charging them to make certain that quasi security outfits created and owned by state governments are precluded from the election duty, he stressed that national security interest overrides personal interest.
He noted that in line with the directives of Mr. President, the election shall be policed in a civil manner with full compliance with the rule of law.
The IGP also warned all officers to remain apolitical in ensuring free, fair and credible elections.
