By Hassan Zaggi
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has disclosed that the officers and men of the Force have arrested 203 offenders and recovered 18 firearms of various descriptions from 4 political thugs during the February 25 presidential election.
He disclosed this at a meeting with top police managers in Abuja, Monday.
The meeting was to access the presidential election and draw from the lessons learnt in preparation to the March 11 governorship and state houses of Assembly election
“In your quest to maintain order within the electoral space, you succeeded on a commendable scale in stabilizing such threatened space, safely rescued several INEC officials and citizens that were under threats, secured sensitive materials, made series of recoveries including arms and ammunition of various descriptions as well as effected, in the most professional manner, the arrest of several electoral adversaries nationwide.
“ In this regard, of the about 185 major incidents that the Police responded to across the country during the elections, a total of 203 offenders linked to various electoral offences and sundry crimes have so far been arrested, while not less than 18 firearms of various descriptions were recovered from 4 political thugs during the exercise.
“All the cases are at various stages of investigations at the Nigeria Police Electoral Offences Desks and I assure you that in due course they will be concluded and processed to the Legal Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission for prosecution.”
The IGP, therefore, commended men and officers of the Force who participated in the election for their firmness, newtrality and obedience to the operational guidelines on election duties.
“I am particularly elated that you situated your operations strictly within the context of the Reviewed Standard Operational Guidelines and Rules for Police Officers and Other Security Agents on Electoral Duties which was issued to all officers in the countdown to the election operations.
“I am also excited that you all maintained a high level of
civility and situated your operations within the dictates of rule of law. Yet, you remained apolitical, firm and supportive of the Independent National Electoral Commission and sacrificed to create an enabling environment for the law abiding electorates to
peacefully exercise their franchise while denying space for
electoral adversaries to manifest their ill-intentions to threaten the overall process.
“Even more soothing is the feedback received to the effect that you responded promptly and courageously to most of the breaches that were recorded and largely mitigated them with the highest level of self-restraint and best global policing standard in the circumstance.”
The IGP further said: “Most fundamentally, your excellent performance is clearly indicative of your compliance with my strategic and operational directives which were predicated on the charge of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure a peaceful and secure electoral process as well as a firm, but apolitical disposition that will engender a free, fair, and credible 2023 General Elections.
“For your loyalty, patriotism, sacrifice, and professionalism, I wish to use this forum to convey my sincere appreciation and commendation to you here seated and indeed, to the entire Nigeria Police family, the Military, Intelligence Community and all other complementary Services that supported us in the
exercise.
“In so doing, however, I must be quick to remind you of the common saying that ‘the reward for hard work is more work’.”
On the Governorship and House of Assembly election this weekend, the IGP charged the officers to “recommit yourselves to national duty and sustain the high operational level that is attracting broad commendation to the Force.”
