BENIN CITY-Ahead of Wednesday governorship election in Edo State the Nigeria Police Force has deployed three gunboats, five helicopters, 12 armoured personnel carriers and 25,000 operatives to ensure maximum security before, during and after the exercise.
The 1,172 operational vehicles earmarked for the poll, have been strategically stationed, as the allowances of the operatives have been approved.
The Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) in charge of operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Habila Joshak have arrived the state with four Commissioners of Police, for effective monitoring.
There will be aggressive patrol on the ground, air and water during and after the polls.
Marine policemen would mann the gunboats to secure the waterways in Ologbo, Agenebode and Inikorogha areas of the state.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Air wing Mr E.D Zang would lead his men using the helicopters to view from the sky and promptly report to ground troops any unwanted occurrence.
The army would lock down all the strategic entry and exit points of the state during the period.
The Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agencies in the state would also be involved in the exercise.
Political parties, contestants and their loyalists enjoined to accept the outcome of the poll as a level playing ground is to be provided for all.
DIG Habila stated this while reiterating the roles of the police in the election to Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and heads of departments at the state police command headquarters, Benin City, last weekend.
He enjoined the officers to display high level of professionalism and neutrality as anyone found to have violated the electoral act would be arrested and prosecuted.
He charged them to ensure that adequate security and protection is given to the electorate, observers, ballot materials, INEC personnel, National Youths Corps members, party agents and everyone participating in the exercise.
DIG Habila also enjoined the officers to ensure safe delivery of election materials.
“Ensure that any individual or group who want to truncate the peaceful process is prevented from do so”. He charged.
On the entourage of the DIG are the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, Mr Isaac Eke, Commissioner of Police in charge of Air wing, Mr E.D Zang, and Commissioner of Police, Mobile Police, Mr Bello Ahmed, among others.
Our reporter visit to Benin airport and the state police command headquarters, Benin City, last weekend revealed two police helicopters marked 5N-ANS, 5N-KSH, and seven Armoured Personnel Carriers with registration numbers NPF3230D, NPF3233D, NPF3219D, NPF3321D, and NPF3228D, respectively.
Helicopters were however sighted hovering around Benin Metropolis about 12noon, yesterday.
