Police beef up security as result collation begins in Rivers
Tunde Opalana, Abuja
As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commences the collation of the gubernatorial and House of Assembly election results, the Rivers state Police Command has assured residents that security has been beefed up to ensure the protection of lives and property.
The state Commissioner of Police and the Chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), Usman Belel, after a meeting of the agency and other bodies superintending over the elections, agreed to put in place adequate security measures to ensure that the entire process is transparent and seamlessly carried out.
Part of the security measures put in place, according to Spokesman of the police, Nnamdi Omoni, include the massive deployments of policemen and other sister security agencies to the venue and the outer perimeter of the collation centre and total closure of the Port-Harcourt/Aba Express Road, the stretch from Waterlines to the GRA junction both in and outwards of the roads while diversions will be only to Olu Obasanjo and Polo Club roads.
The police commissioner noted with concern, the temporary hardship the closure will cause and appealed to the public to show understanding, as the closure is done in the overall interest of the public and intended to provide conducive atmosphere for the collation exercise.
The police warned politicians, candidates and indeed, unauthorized persons to stay clear from the collation centre, as any person or group whose act or omission undermines the process will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the Electoral Act.
The police solicited the cooperation and support of the public, as it is determined to prosecute the last lap of this all important national assignment.
