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By Nasir Kura
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) would deploy 300,000 policemen across the country for the smooth conduct of Saturday’s gubernatorial and State Assembly elections, Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has said.
Speaking to State House correspondents Friday after a meeting of Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, said the police and other security agencies have concluded plans to enhance security in all parts of the country in order to enable Nigerians to perform their civic duty without any form of molestation.
“We are all aware of the smooth conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections and we congratulate Nigerians for the generally peaceful conduct of that election and we are prepared now for the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in the country.
“We will like every Nigerian to come out and cast his or her vote because the security arrangement we provided during the Presidential election is being enhanced, so as to provide an enabling environment for everybody to come out and cast his/her vote for their preferred candidates,” he said.
The police boss also warned hoodlums and selfish politicians that would want to ferment trouble on elections day.
“We will again advice those that would want to disrupt the process to rethink because during the Presidential election we had some few challenges here and there and we will not allow such to repeat itself. We are taking more security measures to address those pockets of challenges we noticed.
“Thuggery is not allowed, ballot snatching is not allowed and likewise disruption of the process of election is not allowed. The security personnel have resolved to deal ruthlessly with anybody that attempts to disrupt the process of this election and for that reason; we expect the conduct of the election to be peaceful in every state.
“Election materials must not be tampered with, we expect that officials of the Independent national Electoral Commission INEC officials will do their work without fear or favour and without been compromised. Likewise, the security personnel are to perform their duties without been compromised. So we have tightened the security, to make sure that the election goes on without any hitch,” he said.
