The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has approved the setting up of an Election Team to carry out on-the-spot assessment and appraisal of the security emplacements ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
He affirmed that the three-pronged responsibility of the Team include; Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of election security, as well as to identify, analyze and mitigate possible threats.
This, he stated was in furtherance of the IGP’s drive for safe, secured, and credible general elections as well as to ensure adequate security coverage before, during and after the 2023 general elections.
Adejobi also disclosed that the Police Boss has appointed the Vice President (INTERPOL) and Head, National Crime Bureau (NCB), AIG Garba Baba Umar, psc, as the National Coordinator of the team of experienced and seasoned police officers with vast knowledge in election security management, and to be assisted by other team members including the AIG Force Secretary, AIG Habu Sani, CP Election Monitoring, CP Basil Idegwu, and the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The team also comprises 7 other Commissioners of Police (CPs), 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police, 30 Assistant Commissioners of Police, 30 Chief Superintendents of Police, and 16 Strategic Officers of other ranks.
While reiterating the commitment of the Police to ensuring that the elections were safe, secure, credible, and in line with global best practices, IGP Baba tasked the team to, amongst other things, ensure the propriety of deployments, give real-time coverage of the electoral process, and safeguard against hostile external and internal influence using INTERPOL, anti-cybercrime and intelligence tools and assets of the Nigeria Police Force.
Similarly, the IGP has reaffirmed the establishment and viability of the Electoral Offences Desks domiciled at the State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCID) of all Commands across the nation.
It is to be headed by the Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) in charge of the SCID, and wss saddled with the responsibility of collating, investigating and prosecuting all matters relating to electoral offences nationwide.
“The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, calls on well-meaning Nigerians, international communities, and all stakeholders to support the NPF teams in all areas, particularly on intelligence sharing and regular engagements, to achieve success in the 2023 general elections”, the statement said.
