Police Ban Armed Security From Polling Centres In Kwara
The Kwara State Police Command on Friday announced that no security person deployed to man polling centres would be allowed to carry arms
on elections day today, Saturday, April 11.
Mr Olufemi Adenaike, Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG in charge of the Force Training and Development deployed to Kwara to supervise
the governorship and State House of Assembly elections announced this at a news conference in Ilorin.
The DIG also warned that no Police escort attached to any political office holders or Very Important Personalities, VIP, should accompany their bosses to the polling centres in uniform or carry arms to the voting venue.
Adenaike hinted that the Force might withdraw such Orderlies on Saturday and warned that any Police officer caught contravening the directive would be instantly sanctioned.
He said the measure was to ensure a violent free election and prevent politicians from using security agents from intimidating opponents or compelling voters to vote for particular Party.
The Police also announced restrictions of vehicular movement as well as politicians from moving from place to place from 8.00am to 5pm on Saturday earmarked for elections period.
The Police Boss explained that the restriction placed on politicians’ movement was to checkmate their likely shifting of voters from place
to place in attempt to rig the polls.
Adenaike said the Police in collaboration with other Security agencies were fully prepared to provide adequate security for people during and
after the general elections.
He said Police Authority dispatched senior officers of his caliber to States in order to address whatever lapses identified during the March 28, presidential and National assembly Polls.
He added that the measures were taken to ensure that Officers and men of the Security Services adhere strictly to their Constitutional role as law enforcing agents and prevent them from getting involved in any complicity in election matters.
