** Places Ban on VIP Aides, Escorts, Quasi Security Outfits

By Festus Fifen

Ahead of forthcoming bye-election in 13 states across the Federation scheduled to hold on the 16th August, 2025, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has reiterated his earlier directives on the deployment of operational logistics to the affected States and Local Government Areas where the elections would hold to provide an enabling environment for a free, fair and credible elections.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi says , the affected states include Anambra, Kano, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kano, Ogun, Zamfara, and Niger States.

In his words ” In order to ensure smooth elections, the IGP has directed the deployment of senior officers of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to assist State Commissioners of Police to ensure proper supervision over the electoral process for a smooth and hitch free election, while officers and men of the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, Force Intelligence Department and other tactical units have equally been deployed.

” The IGP has also ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day within affected Local Government Areas with the exception of those on essential services including INEC Officials, Accredited Media and Electoral Observers, Ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters.”

Similarly, Adejobi says the IGP reiterates the ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.

He added that State-established and owned security outfits/organizations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guards and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.

The Inspector General of Police hereby charges all officers deployed for this special duty to ensure compliance with NPF standard operational protocols for elections and further urges all citizens to be law abiding during and after the elections and assures that all necessary security arrangements have been emplaced to ensure their right to vote is unobstructed.