IG withdraws security from political office holders

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Nigerian Police Thursday, October 18th, 2012

BY DAYO JOHNSON

THE Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday withdrew all police orderlies attached to political office holders in Ondo State just as he announced restriction of movement into the state from this evening.

There was, however, uncertainty yesterday if the withdrawal would also affect Governor Segun Mimiko, who is also standing for election as the candidate of the Labour Party.

Abubakar, who announced this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure also confirmed that the military would be deployed to beef up security during the election.

According to him, the restriction of movement into the state would start from today at 6pm to 6am with a break between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. tomorrow and the restriction would resume from 6 p.m. tomorrow till 8 p.m. on Saturday.

The Inspector General of Police said that road blocks would be introduced on all entrances into Ondo State during the security clampdown.

Announcing the readiness of the police to provide adequate security for the election, Abubakar said the police were well prepared to combat political thugs that may want to disrupt the governorship polls.

According to him, five units of mobile policemen have been deployed to each of the three senatorial districts of the state while 10 units of mobile policemen would be on standby.

He, nevertheless, assured that the large number of security operatives was not meant to harass or molest the people but to checkmate any security challenge, adding that at least one unit of mobile policemen would be on guard in each of the council areas of the state.

The IGP said that 20 Armoured Personnel Carriers APCs have been deployed to the two riverrine areas of the state, Ilaje and Ese Odo. Abubakar added that three security officials including FRSC, Custom, and Prison officials would be at polling units.

-Vanguardwp_posts