Guber Elections: Borno Police Command to enforce total ban on movements; Warns trouble makers to stay away.

The Borno State Police Command has uncovered plans by dubious persons with ulterior motives to pose as Election Observers so as to beat the attention of Security Personnel in order to perpetrate electoral fraud, vote buying and other acts that are inimical to peaceful conduct of elections within the state.

To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Damian Chukwu warns that any person or group of persons who impersonate Election Observers, Electoral Officials, Security Agents or any other official connected with the elections (knowing well that he/she has not been so accredited/employed by INEC or the various Security Agencies, as the case may be) will be arrested and prosecuted in line with the electoral act and other extant laws.

As directed by the Inspector-General of Police, (and in line with the curfew imposed by the state government) there will be restriction of vehicular movement from 10.30pm on the eve of the Election till 6.00pm on Election Day.

For the avoidance of doubt, the movement restriction will affect all motor vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles, bicycles, Camels, Horses, Donkeys, Cattles etc.

It will however exclude those on essential duties who, as a matter of necessity must display their valid Identity cards.

Eligible voters (with valid PVCs) are therefore advised to proceed in a peaceful manner to their various polling units and to also conduct themselves in an orderly manner throughout the duration of the exercise.

They are equally advised to limit themselves to their voting areas as unnecessary loitering and movements suspected to likely to cause a breach of public peace will not be condoned.

The Command is assuring members of the public that security deployments are emplaced to safeguard all law abiding citizens to exercise their franchise without fear, apprehension, intimidation or violence.

The Commissioner of Police further wishes to inform the general public that the Command, in collaboration with other security agencies has set up a Joint Operations Centre where complaints arising from the conduct of the elections would be treated with dispatch.

The Centre could be reached on the following contacts – 08068969292, 08035924493, 08038791313, 08024762021, 08173015010, and 08098134694.

Complaints may also be directed to the Command’s Control Room and CRU nos – 09053872280, 09053872240 and 08068075581.

While appealing for the continued support and cooperation of all stakeholders and other members of the public towards the conduct of free, fair, credible and violence-free elections, the Command wishes the Borno state electorate a generally peaceful conduct of the exercise.

DSP Edet Okon
PPRO, For CP, Borno State Command.