IGP redeploys Osun CP, deploys 1 DIG, four AIGs, CPs, 15 DCPs to state ahead July 15 governorship poll

Ahead of the Saturday, July 16 Osun Governorship Elections, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali Baba, has temporarily redeployed the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Olokode Olawale, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

This is also as the IGP ordered the deployment of a police team, including a Deputy Inspector General, as well as four Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) to the state.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this, Sunday, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the team would be headed by the DIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Mr Johnson Kokumo.

The police spokesperson added that Kokumo, who is also the supervisory DIG for the South-West, would be assisted by four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) during the exercise.

He said four Commissioners of Police (CPs), 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and 30 Assistant Commissioners of Police were also deployed for the exercise.

According to him, adequate police personnel of the rank of Chief Superintendents of Police and below have equally been deployed for the election.

He said Kokumo would oversee the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment.

Adejobi said the idea was to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment, devoid of violence for law abiding citizens to freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.

He said other senior officers deployed would coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three senatorial districts, 30 local government areas and 3,753 polling units in the state.

Adejobi also informed that the Commissioner of Police and Provost Marshall at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr Julius Alawari, has been temporarily deployed to Osun for the election and would be there until the conclusion of the exercise.

The police spokesman further said the IGP would on Tuesday, meet with stakeholders in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, adding that the  operational deployments were part of actions aimed at creating a conducive and enabling environment for the election.

He said the personnel deployed were drawn from the conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and INTERPOL.

Adejobi said others were drawn from the Special Protection Unit (SPU), Police Airwing, Public Relations Department (FPRD) and the police medical team.

He said the personnel would be on ground to guarantee free, fair, credible and acceptable election.

According to him, five Armored Personnel Carriers for patrol, as well as three helicopters and six  Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for aerial surveillance amongst other unique operational assets are also deployed.

He said the Nigeria Police Force was satisfactorily prepared for the election and reiterated the commitment of the Force to synergise with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders for the election.

Adejobi said the synergy was to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC officials, equipment, accredited observers and other key players.

He urged the electorate to be law-abiding and to comply with the restriction of movement order to be announced at the appropriate time.

The police spokesman enjoined the electorate to come out en masse to exercise their franchise, adding that adequate security had been emplaced to protect lives and property, before, during, and after the election.