The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has set up an Election Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Team for deployment across the states of the federation.
A statement today, February 8, by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the Team will identify, analyze and mitigate threats, as well as carry out on-the-spot assessment and appraisal of the security emplacements ahead of the 2023 general elections.
According to Adejobi, the setting up of the Team is in furtherance of the drive by the Police for safe, secured and credible general elections, as well as ensuring adequate security coverage before, during and after the 2023 general elections.
He said that the police boss appointed the Vice President (INTERPOL) and Head, National Crime Bureau (NCB), AIG Garba Baba Umar, as the National Coordinator of the team of experienced and seasoned Police Officers.
Such officers, he added, have vast knowledge in election security management, and be assisted by other team members, including the AIG Force Secretary, AIG Habu Sani, CP Election Monitoring, CP Basil Idegwu, the Force Public Relations Officer, himself: CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
“The team also comprise 7 other Commissioners of Police, 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police, 30 Assistant Commissioners of Police, 30 Chief Superintendents of Police, and 16 Strategic Officers of other ranks.”
Adejobi quoted IGP as reiterating the commitment of the Police to ensuring that the elections are safe, secure, credible, and in line with global best practices.
The police boss tasked the team to, amongst other things, ensure the propriety of deployments, give real-time coverage of the electoral process, and safeguard against hostile external and internal influence using INTERPOL, anti-cybercrime and intelligence tools and assets of the Nigeria Police Force.
“In the same vein, the IGP reaffirms the establishment and viability of the Electoral Offences Desks domiciled at the State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCID) of all commands across the nation headed by the Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of the SCID. The Electoral Offences Desk is saddled with the responsibility of collating, investigating and prosecuting all matters relating to electoral offences nationwide.
“The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, calls on well-meaning Nigerians, international communities, and all stakeholders to support the NPF teams in all areas, particularly on intelligence sharing and regular engagements, to achieve success in the 2023 General Elections.”
