The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has tasked senior police officerr, particularly officers responsible for strategic operational deployments and active field duties during the general elections, officers from operations department of the military, and other security agencies involved in election security management, and members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), on the need to adhere to internatonal best practices.
IGP Baba handed the charge while declaring open a one-day seminar for all Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) in charge of operations across the zonal and state police commands, as well as other security agencies, and the CSOs, Monday in Abuja.
The seminar with the theme: Role of the Nigeria Police Force in Curbing Election Violence in Nigeria as it Affects the Upcoming 2023 General Elections,” was organised in.collaboration with Central Soft Support Services to provide necessary skills for the management of electoral violence.
The police boss tasked participants to be prepared to police the election against those who intend to sabotage the electoral process and to foster an environment that will encourage Nigerians to exercise their right to vote and actively participate in choosing the leaders of their choice.
While harping on the need to respect everyone who would be out to vote and deter those who want to do otherwise, he noted that: “First, professionalism and operational competence must be improved; therefore, it is important to sharpen our knowledge, ability, and capacity to confront any challenges to contribute effectively to the objective of the exercise.”
According to him, the seminar was the last in the series of trainings for officers and men of the NPF in prpearation for the general elecrions.
On his part, the Course Coordinator, AIG Wilson Inalegwu (retd.), while giving an overview of the seminar, said the training was for intelligence officers, who are the engine rooms of police operations across the 36 states, as well as zonal police commands across the country, to brainstorm on strategies to ensure free, peaceful, and credible elections.
Speaking on the importance of synergy the coordinator said: “…
“And in doing this, you recognise that it cannot be done alone because the composition of the Inter-agency Causative Commission on Election Security includes other sister agencies, and so the idea is also shared with officers and personnel from other units. The military, civil defence, the DSS, road safety, civil society organizations, and the press are all critical to the delivery of free, fair, and credible elections.”
