Ahead of the State and National Assembly re-run elections for Rivers State, slated for Saturday 10th December 2016, Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has said that 20 000 officers and men, three helicopters and 20 gunboats would be deployed to ensure peaceful and orderly conduct at the polls.
Speaking in Kano during a visit to his officers and men of the Command, the IGP said the police wanted to re-enact the successes of peaceful conduct of elections in Edo and Ondo where governorship polls recently held.
“It is our responsibility to ensure a hitch free exercise and we would do our best to ensure violence- free rerun elections to re-enact the Edo and Ondo examples”.
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“We are happy with what happened in both Edo and Ondo states. We will be on ground with 20,000 men, three helicopters and 20 gunboats to ensure violence-free rerun elections”.
The IGP however warned that the police would be at liberty to defend themselves in the event of attacks noting “The police are your friends; they would be there for you to ensure safety of life and property.
“I must warn however that we would not condone attacks on our men”.
He announced that Mobile Policemen guard VIPs are to be withdrawn saying that a Special Protection Unit has been established and would henceforth be deployed for civil purpose.
Continuing Idris said a reform would be implemented to assist serving and retired police officers while “A special package to assist police widows is also in the offing”.
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