Usman Alkali Baba, the Inspector General of Police, has directed all police commissioners in charge of state police commands to immediately activate the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to involve all interested parties in developing strategies for mitigating threats to the conduct of the general elections in 2023 in their various areas of responsibility.
Noting that political violence, hate speech, threats, political intolerance, false information, and political extremism are all potential threats to our democracy and interests in national security, the IGP instructed all police commissioners to collaborate with other ICCES members to minimize the occurrence and threats of violence and to swiftly prosecute those who violate existing electoral laws.
IGP Alkali urged all Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands to ensure adequate and strategic deployment of officers and assets, as well as coordinate, deploy, and supervise officers from other security agencies scheduled for election duty, following ICCES directives, as quoted by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) facilities must be fortified in each of their different spheres of authority, even while voting materials are moved there.
They are to prevent attacks on INEC premises and safeguard the safety and security of INEC workers and equipment before, during, and after the general elections in 2023.
In the same vein, the IGP has mandated a fresh delivery of devices, anti-riot gear, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for police officers around the federation to prepare them for their task of managing election security.
The items include non-lethal weaponry for crowd control and to reduce the danger of casualties in potential encounters with subversive elements, such as rubber bullets, water cannons, tear gas, riot guns, etc.
The Inspector General of Police underlined the administration’s dedication to safeguarding our democratic legacy and interests in national security.
He urged the public, other security organizations, and the ICCES stakeholders to actively support the Nigeria Police Force in its mission to ensure the safety and security of everyone before, during, and after the elections.
