Guber Elections: Kogi, Katsina Police Commands warns Political Actors against flouting electoral laws; As Katsina State Command emplaces restriction order on vehicular movement during polling

In his determination to ensure peaceful conduct of Saturday 9/3/2019 State House of Assembly Election in Kogi State, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem A. Busari met with all the Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, as well as tactical and operational Commanders and evaluated, assessed and reviewed the security challenges experienced in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly Elections in the State.

The Commissioner however expressed his appreciation to the good people of the State over their conduct in the last elections. He therefore urged them to show more commitment during the forthcoming State Assembly Election to ensure a violence free exercise.

He stated that, areas where security challenges were recorded during the last elections were identified and strategic security measures were adopted to tackle some of the challenges that may resurface in the Saturday 9/3/2019 State Assembly Election in the State.

He reassures members of the public of the Command’s plan in synergy with other security agencies to provide a secure environment for all eligible voters to exercise their franchise without fear of intimidation and molestation.

He however reaffirmed that the Nigeria Police shall continue to remain civil, firm, apolitical and highly professional in the discharge of our duties during the forthcoming Election. The Police shall deploy all its machineries with an elaborate security arrangement in synergy with other security agencies to deal decisively with any Political thugs or hoodlums who may want to disrupt the electoral process.

Therefore, all Political Actors are hereby advised to abide by the electoral Act (2010) and play the game by the rule. Whoever goes contrary to this Act, shall face the full wrath of the law.

He equally warns all those who are in possession of illegal firearms to surrender their arms to the nearest Police station or handover same to their traditional rulers. Whoever I caught in possession of such arms will be prosecuted accordingly.

A statement by DSP William Ovye Aya, PPRO Kogi State Police Command urges Parents and Guidance, Traditional/Religious leaders, public office holders to monitors their Children, Wards, Subjects to be law abiding and resist any attempt to be used to cause disturbance of public peace a violation of law and order before, during and after the election.

Similarly, the Katsina State Police Command in its determination and total commitment towards free, fair, credible and peaceful 2019 general elections has informed the general public that, the Command after due consultation with relevant stakeholders superintending and overseeing the forthcoming Elections, the following restriction orders are hereby made:

a. That there will be total restriction of movement of persons and vehicles from 6:00am – 6:00pm on Saturday, 9th March, 2019.

b. Politicians and Very Important Personalities (V.I.Ps) are barred from going to any voting centre with their security details and orderlies. Also they are warned to desist from moving from one place to another on that day as stipulated by the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

c. All entry and exit points into the state are going to be manned and blocked by security personnel. No movement will be allowed until the elections are over.

d. The Police and other security personnel will be conducting robust and purposeful patrols to ensure compliance with this order and towards a hitch free exercise.

f. We have made adequate arrangement to provide security for all voters to come out en mass and cast their votes without any fear of harassment or molestation. All the nine (9) frontline LGAs bordering Rugu forest are being fortified with roving patrols to protect voters and safe guard INEC staff and materials.

g. Deployment of policemen and other sister security agencies to man the polling units have also been concluded.

g. We are calling on all good citizens of Katsina state to partner with the police and other security agencies to make the elections a success. Let me quickly warn that any attempt by any person or group of persons, to undermine our will, will be ruthlessly dealt with. Parents are hereby called upon to warn their wards to avoid any confrontation with the security agents. All acts of hooliganism, thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, buying of votes or any activity detrimental to the success of this election or aimed at undermining the process will face severe consequences.

e. In this regard, the Commissioner of Police Katsina state Command, CP Sanusi Buba, psc, thanked the good people of the state for their cooperation and support to the Nigeria Police Force and indeed other security agencies for the successful conduct of the last concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections. We urged them to sustain the tempo towards a hitch-free Gubernatorial and State House Assembly elections comes this Saturday 9th March, 2019, please.

CP SANUSI BUBA, psc,
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
KATSINA STATE COMMAND,