As the 2023 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections draw nearer, the Commissioner of police, Sokoto state command, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, has reiterated the command’s readiness to provide adequate security to safeguard citizens and their properties before, during and after the exercise.
CP Gumel who stated this at a press conference held at the command’s headquarters in Sokoto with all area commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) under the command in attendance, assured that the police will ensure hitch free election.
Gumel enumerated some emerging crimes that are threatening national security and could undermine their efforts towards entrenching a peaceful electioneering process, if not adequately curtailed.
According to him, the emerging crimes included banditry, terrorism, thuggery most of which he said have political undertones and in most cases the consequences constitute major security threats to our democracy.
He noted with dismay that it has already ravaged many communities particularly in the Eastern and southern parts of the state with adverse effects on the economic and social wellbeing of the residents.
The CP also noted that other emerging crimes included movement with Illegal Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) trafficking.
Others were, the use of conventional services uniforms being utilized by unauthorized persons to advance political violence, political extremism and intolerance, while syndicated unconventional media cyber bullying for political ends is also seen on the rise daily.
He said that his command is battle ready to keep to its statutory responsibility of stabilizing the internal security order to keep the peace before, during and after the elections.
“We remain committed to our constitutional responsibility for securing the public space and the territorial integrity of the country before, during and after the elections and this remains sacrosanct,” he said.
He said that to achieve this, he has already directed a crackdowns in the activities of quasi-security agents, who may be employed by politicians, and to stop them from participating in the electoral process.
He said the essence of the meeting was to review the internal security of the state especially at this critical moment and streamline on their plans towards conducting peaceful elections.
He commended the efforts of Policemen in the state for their commitment and synergy with the military and other security agencies in the state
He assured that the police will remain apolitical as directed by the President Muhammed Buhari and the Inspector General of Police.
“We shall remain apolitical and leave no one in doubt of our desire to give effect to the charge of Mr. President to ensure free, fair and credible elections across the state,” he said.
On incessant attacks on INEC facilities and other key government assets, CP Usaini directed area commanders, DPOs, Tactical teams to ensure the emplacement of firm actions that will deter attacks on such facilities/assets
He charged them to put machineries in motion that will in the most proactive manner identify, isolate, apprehend and bring deserved justice on any political actor and their foot-soldiers who may be planning to engage in any form of political violence.
He warned them to conduct themselves within the dictates of the Electoral Act and other laws,
He called on the parents and guardians to counsel their children and wards to resist the urge of being recruited to become tools that could be used to disrupt the electoral process.
