The Nigeria Police Force has announced the deployment of no fewer than 15,000 personnel to provide security for the August 16 governorship election in Osun State, warning that anyone arrested for electoral offences will be transferred to Abuja for prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Erale Etaifo, disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing officers deployed for the exercise at the Police Officers’ Mess in Osogbo.
Etaifo cautioned security personnel against any conduct capable of compromising the credibility of the election, stressing that the police would not tolerate misconduct from officers, politicians, or party supporters.
He warned that anyone found attempting to undermine the electoral process would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
“Arrested violators of electoral laws will be moved straight to Abuja. No one arrested here in Osun during or after the election will be detained here. This election is a federal government election. Anybody arrested will be taken to Abuja,” he said.
The police commissioner revealed that the deployment includes conventional police officers, tactical units, the Police Mobile Force (PMF), specialists, dog handlers, and medical personnel.
“As I speak with you, the total number of officers that will come for this election should be nothing less than 15,000. This includes conventional policemen, specialists, the dog section, medical personnel, and the PMF. The DIG and AIG in charge of these operations are coming,” Etaifo said.
He added that his early deployment to Osun followed heightened political tension ahead of the poll.
“I will be the CP in charge of the election. That is why the Inspector-General of Police deployed me here. We were expected to arrive about four or five days before the election, but because of the heightened tension, the IGP directed that I come earlier to coordinate security operations,” he stated.
The police say the extensive deployment is aimed at ensuring a peaceful, free, and credible governorship election across Osun State.
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