Port Harcourt -The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has deployed 28, 000 police officers and men to Rivers to provide security for Dec. 10 rerun elections.

Idris made this known on Thursday in Port Harcourt while addressing the deployed police personnel and those of the state command.

According to him, logistics arrangements had been concluded.

Idris said that three helicopters would be used for arial surveillance, each per senatorial district.

He also said that 28 gun boats would be used by the police to patrol waterways in the state in collaboration with Nigerian Navy.

The IGP, who also paid a courtesy call on Gov. Nyesom Wike, said that he was in the state to ensure peaceful elections.

He urged the people of the state to support security agencies to ensure peaceful polls.

In his speech, Wike told the IGP that the withdrawal of his Chief Security Officer (CSO) had exposed his life to danger.

”The moment you touch my chief security officer, you are telling me that you are ready for me. As I sit here, I am empty, I have no protection.

”What you have done is the highest disrespect to the Office of the Governor,” he said.

Wike pleaded with the IGP to return his CSO, saying that he would not be able to take anyone.

“I am pleading with you, my life is very important; I will not take any chief security officer you bring to me that I don’t know.

”This is a matter of security and protection, it is not what you do with levity.”

Wike said that the IGP did not consult him before redeploying the CSO.

The governor said that he was shocked by a statement released by the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, saying that his CSO was withdrawn for misconduct.

He told the IGP that, on the contrary, the CSO only stopped an APC crowd from invading the government house.

He urged the police to be unbiased during the election, saying that Rivers people would support an unbiased police but would resist any attempt to use security agencies for untoward electoral action.

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Wike accused the police of declaring a state-wide curfew in Rivers without consultating with the state security council.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, on Thursday urged APC supporters in Rivers not to allow members of the opposition parties to intimidate them during the rerun election.

The rerun is slated for Dec. 10.

Amaechi, the immediate past Governor of the state, gave the advice during an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Port Harcourt.

He urged the supporters to be cautious and defend themselves on the election day but warned that they should not kill anybody.

”What I will tell you today is do not kill anybody but do not be killed.
He said that all the citizens had the right to life.

“It is not only them that have the right to life, you also have a right to life. I don’t want to hear that they shoot and took away result sheets.

The National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said that the party had huge presence at the rally due to the respect it had for its members in the state.

”The whole federal might is here. We have the governors here today.

”Our senators and other members of the National Assembly are here today; our women leaders are here today to pass one message.

“That is because we respect you, our members in Rivers State; we respect the courage of our members in Rivers State; we are behind you.

”We want to let you know that we have heard your cries; we have seen your anguish; the message is simple; enough is enough. Enough is enough.”

The Chairman of the National Legislative Rerun Election Campaign Committee of the APC, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, assured the party candidates of victory in the rerun election

Other APC governors who attended the rally include Ibikunle Amusu (Ogun), Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi).

Others are Samuel Ortom (Benue), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto). Ondo State Governor-elect, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, was also at the rally.

Some ministers and members of the National Assembly were also present at the occasion.