The Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun has ordered the distribution of 220 operational vehicles for security management in anticipation of the gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.
In a post on Sunday on the official X handle of the Nigerian Police, the Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the vehicles included water cannons, armored personnel carriers, helmets, bulletproof vests, and tear gas canisters.
To raise the morale of the police officers during the operations, Egbetokun had previously planned training for the officers involved in managing election security for the upcoming elections and had requested permission from the Federal Government to pay their allowances and provide other essential support.
He further urged stakeholders in the three states to maintain peace during the election.
The statement partly reads: “In a bid to have smooth electioneering processes in the forthcoming off-cycle Gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States scheduled for 11th November 2023, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered the distribution of additional 220 operational vehicles, including water canons, Armored Personnel Carriers, helmets, bulletproof vests, tear gas canisters etc, to the 3 affected states to intensify security arrangements for the elections.
“Earlier, the IGP had organised training for the police officers who are involved in the election security management for the forthcoming elections and sought the approval of the Federal Government for the payment of their allowances and other necessary support to boost the morale of the officers during the operations.
“The IGP, therefore, urges all stakeholders in the three states to embrace peace, uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and be law-abiding in their endeavours before, during and after the elections as the Police and other security agencies have been placed on alert to avert any unruly acts capable of disrupting the elections in any of the states”.
