The Nigeria Police Force has announced the deployment of 15,000 police personnel to provide security during the August 15 Osun State governorship election, with a stern warning that anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process will face the full weight of the law.
The Commissioner of Police assigned to oversee security for the election, Samuel Etaifo, disclosed this on Wednesday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, while addressing journalists after a meeting with police personnel deployed for the exercise.
Etaifo explained that the security deployment comprises conventional police officers as well as specialised units, including the Police Mobile Force (PMF), medical teams, dog section and other specialist operatives.
He also revealed that the election security operation would be supervised by a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).
“As I speak with you, the total number of officers that will come for this election, we should be expecting nothing less than 15,000.
“This includes conventional policemen, specialists, dog section, medical, PMF. The DIG and AIG in charge of this operation are coming.
“I will be the CP in charge of the election. That is why the IGP has deployed me here. We are supposed to arrive here about four or five days before the election, but because of the heightened tension, the IGP said I should come, being the junior officer,” Etaifo said.
According to the police commissioner, additional officers had already been deployed to Osun State following reports of rising political tension and isolated incidents of violence ahead of the governorship poll.
He urged all officers participating in the operation to conduct themselves professionally, maintain neutrality and strictly adhere to the provisions of the law throughout the election period.
Etaifo stressed that no individual, regardless of political affiliation or social status, would be allowed to undermine the conduct of a free, fair and credible election.
He warned that anyone arrested for violating electoral laws during the election would be transferred to Abuja for investigation and possible prosecution.
“Arrested violators of electoral laws will be moved straight to Abuja.
“Anyone arrested here in Osun during the course or after the election will be taken to Abuja. This election is a Federal Government election, so anybody arrested will be taken to Abuja. That’s the order,” the CP said.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, with voters expected to elect the state’s next governor.
A total of 14 candidates will contest the election, including the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking another term in office.
The Nigeria Police Force has assured residents that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure a peaceful electoral process and urged citizens to remain law-abiding while exercising their civic responsibility.
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