The Nigeria Police Force has announced that no fewer than 323 persons have been arrested and are in detention across the country for alleged electoral offences during the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who spoke today at a meeting with officers in the ranks of Commissioners of Police and above on Monday in Abuja, said that two officers of the force paid the supreme price while some others were assaulted and injured while discharging their duties during the polls.
Mohammed Adamu said that the Special Election Investigation Team (SEIT) had been directed to investigate all the cases, liaising with INEC to ensure prosecution, adding that the perpetrators of the violence would be fished out and brought to justice no matter their status.
The police boss reassured Nigerians and the international community of the commitment of the force to work closely with INEC and other sister security agencies towards a peaceful election.
He said the personnel of the force should remain civil, firm, professional and apolitical in the discharge of their duties even as he warned all political actors against violence and urged them to play the game in line with the Electoral Act.
“Doing otherwise shall attract the full and appropriate response from the police and other security agencies.”
On the possibility of arming personnel at polling units, he insisted that no policeman would be allowed to carry arms at polling units, saying that it is against the electoral act and international law for officers to use arms at polling units.
Mohammed Adamu said that the force would continue to pay officers their allowances ahead of their deployment for election duty.
He said that the meeting was aimed at debriefing strategic commanders and evaluating the performances of officers during the last elections.
The police boss said the meeting would also afford the force to perfect plans for the March 9 Governorship and State Assembly elections.
Source: NAN.
