In furtherance of strategies designed to prevent electoral fraud and violence, thus ensuring a hitch-free governorship election in Bayelsa State, and supplementary election in Kogi State billed to take place on Saturday, December 5, 2015, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E Arase, fdc, NPM has placed an order restricting movements within the boundaries of Bayelsa State with effect from 6.00am to 6.00pm on Saturday, 5th December, 2015.
This is even as the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has given concrete assurance to the people of Bayelsa State that the gubernatorial poll will be very peaceful.
Gana made this assertion at the Corps National Headquarters, Abuja, disclosing that 10,000 personnel have been deployed to provide Security before, during and after election.
According to the NSCDC helmsman ” 3 Deputy Commandant Generals, 4 Assistant Commandant Generals, a host of Commandants, Officers and Men and sniffer dogs will be on hand to ensure a hitch-free Poll on Saturday. Also, armed personnel have been strategically positioned to protect the Nations National Assets to dissuade hoodlums from having a field day ‘’.
On Kogi State supplementary election, the IGP has also directed intra-city restriction of vehicular movement, in areas where supplementary election will be conducted from 6.00am to 6.00pm on Saturday. However, persons on essential duties such as Ambulance service providers, INEC officials on-duty, security men, accredited election monitors/observers, accredited journalists, etc are not affected by this order.
While imploring the general public for their understanding and cooperation towards the enforcement of this order, the Force notes that the order is informed by the need to forestall plans by criminal elements to undermine the electoral process as gathered through intelligence reports.
The Nigeria Police Force advises that travellers should take advantage of alternative routes to their destinations where necessary within the hours of this restriction of vehicular movement on Saturday 5th December, 2015, as Police, complemented by the military and other security agents on duty at strategic points will subject motorists and other travellers plying the affected routes to civil and meticulous security search.
The IGP, while assuring all law-abiding electorates of a secure and enabling environment to exercise their franchise, warns all security details to refrain from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election, as only security personnel specially assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.
