Presidential/NASS Election: 203 Arrested For Electoral Offences – Police
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has disclosed that it has arrested a total of two hundred and three (203) offenders for their involvement in various electoral offences and sundry crimes, during the February 25 polls.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi after a meeting with the Inspector General in Abuja.
It was gathered that, in addition to the arrests made, Force operatives responded to about one hundred and eighty-five (185) major incidents across the country, even as eighteen (18) firearms of various calibres were recovered from political thugs during the exercise.
According to Adejobi, the IGP said that the cases are at various stages of investigation at the Nigeria Police Electoral Offences Desks, and assured that they will be concluded and processed to the Legal Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission for prosecution.
During the meeting with the Strategic Police Managers, the Police Chief applauded the high level of resilience, and utmost professionalism displayed by Officers and men of the Force as well as other security agencies in the course of the election security operations, which he said were in line with the Reviewed Standard Operational Guidelines and Rules for Police Officers and Other Security Agents on Electoral Duties.
IGP Baba attributed the professionalism displayed by the officers, to the series of pre-election training, meticulous planning, massive operational assets procurement and deployment, as well as prioritized welfare.
He reiterated that the Nigeria Police “is committed to evolving pathways to incrementally strengthen the Force’s operational capacity and professional knowledge in navigating through the complex electoral process dynamics to police our democratic heritage and meet the expectations of the electorates”.
The meeting of the IGP, which held on Monday, 6th March, at the Goodluck Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, was with Strategic Police Managers comprising Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and heads of tactical investigative and operational units of the Force.
Its aim was to debrief officers posted for election security management duties and appraise the performance of the Nigeria Police Force at the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly Elections, identify gaps, and perfect the action plan for the forthcoming March 11th Elections.
