The more than 30, 000 security operatives that will be jointly deployed to provide needed security services during the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State, will not be armed.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Caleb Ikechuckwu, who stated that arrangements were in top gear to receive the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, on a one-day official visit to the state next week.
Already, the Inspector General has deployed the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit, Mr. Abayomi Shogunle, to the state ahead of the election.
Ikechukwu said the decision not to armed security operatives is in line with the common understanding that election matters are generally regarded as civil in nature, and therefore all the security agencies had been told to be civil in their approach.
Further, he disclosed that such officers and men had also been told to be at a radius of 500metres, away from every polling booth and assured of the Police’s readiness for the exercise.
“I can tell you proudly that the police, as a major security outfit, is more than ready. Our readiness is such that even if the election has to come up tomorrow, we will not be caught napping,” he said.
Ikechukwu listed other security and paramilitary agencies in the pool to include Nigeria Immigration Service, Civil Defence, Directorate of Security Services (DSS), Nigeria Prisons Service and the FRSC.
Meanwhile, head of the Advanced Team, Shogunle, who confirmed that he had the instructions to head to Ekiti, said the mission is to build confidence by patrolling different parts of the state and attending swiftly to all complaints emanating from individuals and groups against its men.
“This is one of the several measures the police authorities are taking toward ensuring that we remain neutral in the Ekiti State election,” he said.
He listed emergency numbers to call for complaints including 08057000001 and 0805700002 (For calls only), 0805700003, (Gor SMS only), and 0805700003 (For Whatsapp) only.
Shogunle warned complainants against grave consequences of false alarms or allegations that could not be substantiated with facts.