The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has given a directive for 34,587 police personnel as well as three Police Helicopters to be mobilized to Anambra State ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election so as to guarantee a hitch-free exercise.
Force Headquarters Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, in a statement said the IGP made this known on Thursday at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, during the 2nd Strategic Police Managers Conference for Senior Police Officers from the rank of Commissioner of Police and above.
Other operational assets deployed for the Anambra State Gubernatorial Elections slated for 6th November include the Police Airwing, the Force Marine and the Force Animal Branch.
The IGP said as part of its plan to create a conducive and enabling environment that will guarantee the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming election, the Force conducted an Election Security Threat Analysis and also developed strategic election security operational plan to stabilize the prevailing security situation in the state.
The IGP further noted that the 34,587 personnel is made up of conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personal. Others are the Explosives Ordinance Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit (SPU) as well as Police Medical Teams.
IG Alkali equally charged the Commissioners of Police in FCT and the thirty-six States of the Federation as well as their supervisory Assistant to return to their Commands and strengthen the security architecture therein especially as the year gradually winds down and the Yuletide season draws closer.
The IGP also directed the Strategic Commanders to evolve proactive anti-crime approaches to enable the Force stay ahead against any anticipated security threats to the lives and property of the citizenry.
IG Alkali called on citizens to continue to support the Police in their various localities, noting that: “a robust police operational asset would be delivered soon which will no doubt re-energize policing operations toward improving public safety and security in the country. He assured the nation that the various policing reforms being vigorously pursued by the Force leadership will avail citizens with a more professional, effective, proactive and accountable Police Force.”
