IGP Suleiman Abba threatens to arrest police escort on election day

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, has cautioned police escort joined to legislators not to tail them to surveying focuses on race day.

He said any policeman found in organization with legislators at polling centres, aside from those allocated to guarantee security there, would be arrested. The notice was contained in an announcement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said,
“Only Police personnel specifically assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.  “No armed Police escort must be seen escorting politicians to the Polling units.  “Such (erring) policemen would be arrested and made to face stern disciplinary action.”

He commended Police personnel and other law enforcement agencies that participated in the policing of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections for their unparalleled professionalism during the exercise.

He urged all citizens to remain calm, confident, hopeful and trust in the ability of the police and other relevant agencies to discharge their constitutional mandate of ensuring the safety of lives and property during the exercise.  He pledged that the police would continue to protect the democratic rights and freedoms of the citizens.

He also reiterated the preparedness of the force to consolidate and re-enact the last election security success story in other future elections.