Police To Deploy Over 400,000 Joint Security Personnel Across Polling Units In Nigeria — IGP

Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has disclosed that over 400,000 security personnel are set to be deployed to states across the federation.

He said it was part of measures being taken to ensure hitch free polls on February 25th and March 11, 2023 respectively.

The security personnel jointly, comprise the Police force, the Department of State Services, Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Correctional Officers, National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA) among others.

Out of the entire security personnel to be deployed, the police force is producing about 310,973 officers.

Baba said the various arms of security personnel have come up with their unique identifications system to ensure they are not infiltrated by unscrupulous persons.

The IGP gave some of the plans being put in place by the Police Force, when he featured at the 66th edition of the State House Briefings, coordinated by the Presidential Media Team on Thursday, in Abuja.

He noted that the police would not be allowed to offer escort services to VIPs during the election days, warning those planning to foment trouble to be weary.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had recently given the police authorities a clear warning that the eyes of the nation was upon them to ensure that the elections goes hitch free.

Asked why the Police have never been successful in prosecuting electoral offenders, he said the new electoral act only mandates the police to investigate such cases, adding that only the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC was empowered to prosecute offenders.