"Be Ready to Police Electoral Process, Create A Conducive Environment For Voters"
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has Charged all Deputy Commissioners of Police in charge of Operations across the Zonal and State Police Commands, and other security agencies to be ready to police the Election from those who plan to sabotage the electoral process and to create an enabling environment for Nigerians who want to exercise, and who want to actively take part to elect the leaders of their choice.
Baba made the call today, 20 February while declaring open, a one-day seminar with the theme, ‘The role of the Nigeria Police Force in Curbing Election Violence in Nigeria as it Affects the Upcoming 2023 General Election for Deputy Commissioners of Police, personnel from operations department of the military, members of Civil Society Organisations, the media, youth representatives and the diplomatic community, and other security agencies at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
SpyeTV News reports that the one-day seminar was organised by the Nigeria Police in collaboration with with Central Soft Support Services to provide requisite skills for the management of electoral violence.
Addressing the participants, the IGP noted that, by policing the electoral process, there are best international practices to observe the election, which is the human rights aspect, therefore, personnel must respect everyone that will be out to cast their vote and also checkmate those who want to do otherwise.
"First professionalism and operational competence must be improved, therefore, it is important to sharpen our knowledge, ability and capacity to confront any challenges in order to contribute effectively for the objective of the exercise.
"Secondly, the synergy between the Independent Electoral Commission, and other strategic electoral process organisations, particular, NYSC members, bankers, particularly CBN and International observers, the media, the members of various organizations that have key interest in ensuring that Nigerians are doing what they suppose to do and what not to do for smooth electoral process.
The IGP said, in the past questions have been raised about the professionalism on the Nigeria Police but he is sure that the success of 2019 General Elections was fair and free and the coming election will be better because the force has made effort to improve and do more.
He said this training is the last of the series for the election and at the end of the training,
In his word, AIG Wilson Inalegwu (rtd) said the training is for Intelligence officers, more or less the engine room, of police operations across the 36 states, including their city as well as Zonal Police commands across the country to come and brainstorm on the strategies they have in place to ensure a free, peaceful and credible elections.
He added that the IGP wants Professionalism at his best by all the officers to understand the significance of the moment and that trainings have been conducted at various zonal commands, but it was important that all of them come here to rub minds with each other to cross the T's and all dug eyes of their officers in their various commands.
"And in doing this that you recognise that it cannot be done alone because the composition of the Inter-agency causative Commission election security includes other sister agencies, and so the idea is also invited officers and personnel from other units. The military, civil defence, the DSS, Road safety, the civil society organisations and the press that are critical to the delivery of a free, fair and credible elections.
The keynote speaker, Professor Sunday Ochoche, a fellow of Army War College Nigeria, a pioneer former Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, a former director research took participants on the theme of the seminar alongside with other Speakers, AIG Wilson Inalegwu (Retd.) and CP Lawrence Alobi (Retd).
Participants that assembled at the seminar were experts in their various fields, they were charged to work ardently with the police, as the police Force reassured Nigerians to work closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure preparedness to deliver on its mandate of providing full security coverage before, during, and after the 2023 general election.