BENIN CITY-The Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police in charge of operations at the Force Headquarters in Abuja Mr Habila Joseph has said that 23,000 police personnel will be deployed for the September 10th gubernatorial election in Edo State.
Over 1,172 operational vehicles have been earmarked as marine policemen have also been put on red alert for the exercise.
DIG Habila was in Benin City yesterday to officially assess and evaluate the level of the state police command’s preparedness for the polls.
The DIG who was accompanied on the visit by the AIG, Zone 5’ and some senior police personnel disclosed that they have carefully looked at the operational order for the election as areas that need tactic adjustments and review have been identified.
He stated further that the various polling units across the state have equally be studied with a view to given more security attention to flashpoints.
He noted that the acting Inspector-General of Police Mr Ibrahim Idris is very passionate about Edo governorship election.
“I want to remind you that the election in Edo State is going to serve as a test for the ability of all security agencies….”. DIG Habila maintained.
The DIG explained that arrangement for a swift response to distress call during and after the election has been incorporate in the operational order.
Addressing operatives of Edo Police Command, the DIG commended them for doing the needful during party primaries and the commencement of campaigns.
Mr Habila however enjoined men of the command to display high level of professionalism before, during and after the polls.
Earlier, the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 5’ Mr Kolawole Sodipo and the Edo State Commissioner of Police Mr Chris Ezike assured the DIG of the command readiness to provide adequate security during and after the exercise.
Mr Ezike maintained that some officers of the command have been trained to further train other operatives for the election.
“Sir, as a command, we have done the needful”. CP assured.
Highpoint of the visit was presentation of a plaque to DIG by the commissioner.
It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had recently disclosed that a total of 1,924,072 eligible voters registered for the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) ahead of the September 10 gubernatorial election.
