LOKOJA – Kogi Police Command has said that it had placed certain categories of politicians in the state under surveillance, as part of efforts to ensure peaceful conduct of April 11 elections.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Shola Adebayo who announced this to newsmen in Lokoja, said that the move was in response to reports reaching the police that some politicians were planning to attack INEC staff on the day of the election.
He said that the police had since closely monitored activities of politicians with a view to curtailing their excesses before, during and after the elections.
Adebayo said that the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, had already held a meeting with leaders of political parties on the development.
He said they were all advised against embarking on any action that might breach the peace of the state.
“ The commissioner has warned all of them to abide by the peace accord they signed before the election,’’ he said.
He said that the commissioner had directed all police formations in the state to deal decisively with any act of violence, saying that any politician caught formenting trouble would have himself to blame.
While assuring that the police had put in place strategies to achieve peace before, during and after the elections, Adebayo listed Ayangba, Aiyetoro-Gbede, Odolu, Ebiya and Ajaka as some of the crisis prone areas.