The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Suleiman Abba, has denied banning voters from staying back to monitor their ballots, stressing that he merely advised them to go home to prevent commission of crimes.
Abba, who addressed Squadron Commanders of Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-terrorism commanders and other senior officers at the Force headquarters, Abuja, Tuesday on the forthcoming elections, said there would be restriction on vehicular movements on Saturday, March, 28 from 8a.m. to 5p.m. only and Saturday, April 11, 8a.m. to 5p.m.
This total restriction of movements order, according to the police boss, applies to all, except for ambulances, fire service trucks and others on essential duties.
He advised travellers and citizens who intend to use roads on these days and hours to plan alternative times for their travelling.
Abba explained that the security of the election was important hence the need to avoid anything that could jeopardise the arrangements that have been put in place.
The IG further stated that police would deploy intervention teams to contain any eruption of violence before, during and after the elections.
According to him, the intervention teams would be supported by the Mobile Police Strike Force, particularly after the declaration of results, to protect citizens.
Abba said every requirements would be provided for police personnel involved in the election duty to enable them perform optimally, noting that the PMF would be most needed during transportation of election materials and at the place where the materials would be kept.
He added that the police had enough men to secure the 150,000 polling units in the country.
According to him: “The Police Mobile Force will provide standby and striking force; you are expected to be guided by the provisions of the law.
“Among our arrangements, deployments are made of law enforcement agents and security personnel at all polling units. We have about 150,000 polling units and there are enough deployments arranged for each of the polling unit and in collaboration with all stakeholders, they would do everything possible to prevent the commission of crimes. Not only commission of crimes, but eruption of violence.
“Like I said earlier, there are intervention teams arranged to intervene where the need arises. That is our stand, that is our arrangement, every other strategy, perhaps, we would keep it to ourselves for the purpose of making good use of it.”
Also, the Chairman of Kano State Security Committee on 2015 general election, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, yesterday declared that all roads leading into Kano would be blocked by 12 midnight on Friday, just as inter-local government movements within the state would also be barred in tune with guidelines to promote peaceful and rancor-free elections.
Idris, who is also the state Commissioner of Police, flanked by all security chiefs in the state, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Commissioner, Abdullahi Mukaila, told journalists that voters are also expected to stay 300 metres away from polling units as prescribed by the electoral law.
According to him, fuel hawkers are expected to leave the streets 24 hours to the election, adding that, “road side hawking of fuel and gasoline would not be allowed a day before the election, and two days after the election.”
He further stated that, “no state government security agencies such as Hisbah, KAROTA, Vigilante, boys scout, man-o-war, to mention but a few, will be allowed to dress in uniform or be engaged in any activity in uniform on election day.
“No vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles or persons will be allowed to carry political party symbols or banners on the election day. No person will be allowed to carry any bag, boxes or suspicious items close to any polling station and collation centres.
“Carrying offensive weapons/items such as arms and ammunition, stones, knives, cutlasses, bows, axes, and arrows will not be allowed on the election day.”
The Committee Chairman further noted that public figures would not be allowed to move around polling stations with security aides.
“Everyone is only to go to vote, if desire, stay about 300 metres away from polling stations and return back to their residences.
“After voting, no one is allowed at any collation centres at local government areas and state levels. Only election officials, accredited election observers, journalist and party agents will be allowed to cover election activities at collation centres.
“Only accredited security agencies, observers and journalists will be allowed to move freely on election day. The Joint Operation Centre for all security agencies will be activated on Friday to monitor the two elections.
“The centre would receive complaints and observations from members of public and other relevant information through the following dedicated numbers: 08148888887, 08029292926 and08099999110.
“In addition, Police Control Room Emergency lines are always available for any form of emergency or distress or information to the police on the following dedicated lines: 08032419754,08123821575, 08075391163,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Police Community Relations Committee, Maitama Division, Abuja, has called on Nigerians to eschew violence and cooperate with the police and other security agencies during the polls.
The PCRC Chairman, Alhaji Husseyn Zakari, who addressed journalists, said Nigerians should not allow selfish interest of some minorities in the country to jeopardize the future by engaging in violence.
Zakari, who was represented by his deputy, Uwem Essien, said PCRC is working with the police to ensure non-violent elections while appealing to youths to shun any enticement from troublesome individuals or groups seeking to use innocent citizens as instruments of violence during the polls.
He said: “We need to ignore wrong insinuations and all forms of political misrepresentations and concentrate on the way forward for Nigeria such as enjoying peaceful co-existence, security of lives and property and so on.”
Abba, who addressed Squadron Commanders of Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-terrorism commanders and other senior officers at the Force headquarters, Abuja, Tuesday on the forthcoming elections, said there would be restriction on vehicular movements on Saturday, March, 28 from 8a.m. to 5p.m. only and Saturday, April 11, 8a.m. to 5p.m.
This total restriction of movements order, according to the police boss, applies to all, except for ambulances, fire service trucks and others on essential duties.
He advised travellers and citizens who intend to use roads on these days and hours to plan alternative times for their travelling.
Abba explained that the security of the election was important hence the need to avoid anything that could jeopardise the arrangements that have been put in place.
The IG further stated that police would deploy intervention teams to contain any eruption of violence before, during and after the elections.
According to him, the intervention teams would be supported by the Mobile Police Strike Force, particularly after the declaration of results, to protect citizens.
Abba said every requirements would be provided for police personnel involved in the election duty to enable them perform optimally, noting that the PMF would be most needed during transportation of election materials and at the place where the materials would be kept.
He added that the police had enough men to secure the 150,000 polling units in the country.
According to him: “The Police Mobile Force will provide standby and striking force; you are expected to be guided by the provisions of the law.
“Among our arrangements, deployments are made of law enforcement agents and security personnel at all polling units. We have about 150,000 polling units and there are enough deployments arranged for each of the polling unit and in collaboration with all stakeholders, they would do everything possible to prevent the commission of crimes. Not only commission of crimes, but eruption of violence.
“Like I said earlier, there are intervention teams arranged to intervene where the need arises. That is our stand, that is our arrangement, every other strategy, perhaps, we would keep it to ourselves for the purpose of making good use of it.”
Also, the Chairman of Kano State Security Committee on 2015 general election, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, yesterday declared that all roads leading into Kano would be blocked by 12 midnight on Friday, just as inter-local government movements within the state would also be barred in tune with guidelines to promote peaceful and rancor-free elections.
Idris, who is also the state Commissioner of Police, flanked by all security chiefs in the state, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Commissioner, Abdullahi Mukaila, told journalists that voters are also expected to stay 300 metres away from polling units as prescribed by the electoral law.
According to him, fuel hawkers are expected to leave the streets 24 hours to the election, adding that, “road side hawking of fuel and gasoline would not be allowed a day before the election, and two days after the election.”
He further stated that, “no state government security agencies such as Hisbah, KAROTA, Vigilante, boys scout, man-o-war, to mention but a few, will be allowed to dress in uniform or be engaged in any activity in uniform on election day.
“No vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles or persons will be allowed to carry political party symbols or banners on the election day. No person will be allowed to carry any bag, boxes or suspicious items close to any polling station and collation centres.
“Carrying offensive weapons/items such as arms and ammunition, stones, knives, cutlasses, bows, axes, and arrows will not be allowed on the election day.”
The Committee Chairman further noted that public figures would not be allowed to move around polling stations with security aides.
“Everyone is only to go to vote, if desire, stay about 300 metres away from polling stations and return back to their residences.
“After voting, no one is allowed at any collation centres at local government areas and state levels. Only election officials, accredited election observers, journalist and party agents will be allowed to cover election activities at collation centres.
“Only accredited security agencies, observers and journalists will be allowed to move freely on election day. The Joint Operation Centre for all security agencies will be activated on Friday to monitor the two elections.
“The centre would receive complaints and observations from members of public and other relevant information through the following dedicated numbers: 08148888887, 08029292926 and08099999110.
“In addition, Police Control Room Emergency lines are always available for any form of emergency or distress or information to the police on the following dedicated lines: 08032419754,08123821575, 08075391163,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Police Community Relations Committee, Maitama Division, Abuja, has called on Nigerians to eschew violence and cooperate with the police and other security agencies during the polls.
The PCRC Chairman, Alhaji Husseyn Zakari, who addressed journalists, said Nigerians should not allow selfish interest of some minorities in the country to jeopardize the future by engaging in violence.
Zakari, who was represented by his deputy, Uwem Essien, said PCRC is working with the police to ensure non-violent elections while appealing to youths to shun any enticement from troublesome individuals or groups seeking to use innocent citizens as instruments of violence during the polls.
He said: “We need to ignore wrong insinuations and all forms of political misrepresentations and concentrate on the way forward for Nigeria such as enjoying peaceful co-existence, security of lives and property and so on.”
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