Ahead of the bye-elections scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025, in 13 states, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has reiterated directives for the deployment of operational logistics and personnel to ensure a secure environment for free, fair, and credible polls.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, posted on the Nigeria Police Force’s official X handle, the affected states include Anambra, Kano, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Ogun, Zamfara, and Niger.
The IGP has deployed senior officers of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to assist State Commissioners in supervising the electoral process. Additional reinforcements include personnel from the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, Force Intelligence Department, and other tactical units.
To maintain order, the IGP has ordered a restriction on all forms of vehicular movement — including roads, waterways, and other means of transportation — from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day within the affected local government areas. Exemptions apply to those on essential services such as INEC officials, accredited media and electoral observers, medical emergency ambulances, and firefighters.
The directive also reaffirms the ban on security aides and escorts to VIPs and politicians from accompanying their principals to polling units and collation centres. State-owned security outfits, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guards are prohibited from participating in election security management.
Egbetokun charged all deployed officers to strictly adhere to the Nigeria Police Force’s standard operational protocols for elections and urged citizens to remain law-abiding before, during, and after the polls. He assured that adequate security arrangements are in place to guarantee voters’ rights and the integrity of the electoral process.
Credit: @PoliceNG via X.
Leave a Reply