EKITI 2014: Police deploy troops, helicopters •NSCDC boss briefs personnel

As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepares to conduct Ekiti State governorship election on Saturday, the Nigeria Police, have deployed troops to maintain security in the state. Speaking before the departure of the policemen, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, said the police were also deploying three helicopters for surveillance in the three senatorial districts in the state. He pointed out that the deployment of security personnel by this time means that the Force had started activities a week before the election. He also added, “For the last three months, we have been on surveillance towards a free and fair election in Ekiti State.” The IGP, who said that the number of troops, armoured tanks and helicopters deployed in Ekiti was the highest ever to be deployed in a state, assured Nigerians that the police will do anything humanly possible to provide security for election materials and personnel of INEC. “Already, we have deployed massively in Ekiti, we are ready for the election in Ekiti and we expect that the people of Ekiti should conduct themselves in an orderly manner. We expect them to give us a high level of support and cooperation. We expect them to be partners in progress. “And I expect that the political parties and the candidates that are going to partake in the election should equally assist security agencies to ease some of the problems by talking to their followers to behave in an orderly manner and conduct themselves as expected and go to the poll and do what is expected of them without causing problems,” he added. He assured that the police and other security agencies would do everything possible to prevent recurrence of election violence witnessed in the old Ondo in 1983. “Some of us who are opportuned to be in Ondo State in 1983, during Omoboriowo’s election, we know what happened and we are doing everything to ensure that it is prevented.” Abubakar charged those deployed in Ekiti to abide by the code of conduct and be fair and firm in the discharge of their duties. “We have already made plans to ensure that you are paid your allowances in Ekiti, therefore, I do not expect you to do anything stupid. “Remember you are going to be watched, not only by our own officers but by other organisations, including civil society organisations and international monitors who will be in Ekiti . “I expect you as good ambassadors of the Nigeria Police to obey the code of conduct and at the same time, respect the rule of law and all other regulations guiding the Ekiti election,” he said. Meanwhile, in preparation towards the election, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ade Abolurin, has visited the state to sensitise the officers and men of the corps, the Ekiti people, as well as INEC personnel and adhoc staff. In the courtesy call to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Halitu Pai, Abolurin restated the corps’ commitment in assisting in the maintenance of law and order, collaborating, partnering and synergising with other stakeholders at ensuring a hitch-free election in the state. He assured the commissioner of the readiness of the service in providing security in all the nooks and crannies of the state and stressed the stationing of surveillance vehicles with personnel from specialised units of the corps such as sniffer dogs, special force, counter terrorism and disaster management and response. Pai appreciated Abolu-rin’s timely visit and lauded the effort of the corps personnel in discharging their mandate and their effort in rescuing him from the brutal attempt of some political thugs whilst he was carrying out his duties during the Elaja Local Government elections.