The IGP’s restriction on movements has been reinforced by the Commissioner of Police for the Abia State Command, CP Mustapha Mohammed Bala, who has urged all Abians to fully abide by it.
The command also listed the order to include “restriction of vehicular movements, ban on security escorts of VIPs to the polls, non-participation of state security outfits on the election security management and unauthorized use of sirens, covered number plates, and tinted glasses,” according to a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna.
According to the command, “Only those on essential duties such as INEC officials, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, fire-fighters, etc are exempted from restriction on vehicular movements.
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“All security escorts and aides affiliated to VIPs and politicians are harshly instructed not to accompany their leaders to voting units/collection centers,” the instruction continued.
However, the command stated that the order is aimed at ensuring public order management, and the safety of electorates, as well as assisting the security agencies’ ineffective policing, thereby preventing hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from disrupting the electoral process.
The order therefore is one of several measures put in place to ensure a safe, secure, and conducive environment for the conduct of elections.
The CP further stressed that only security personnel officially assigned to election responsibilities are to be seen within and around the authorized polling places and centers and that anyone detected flouting this direction will be severely sanctioned.
The CP asked all eligible voters to be law-abiding and turn out in force to exercise their right to vote, while also sympathizing with well-meaning residents on the problems the restriction may cause.
As the Force and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all violators of existing laws, most especially the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), are brought to book, the CP further cautioned, “Shop vote buying, vote selling, hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, snatching of ballot boxes, and other criminal act(s).
In conclusion, everyone should use the “NPF Rescue Me App in case of any emergency. The app is available on Android and iOS, or the NPF Rescue Me Emergency Toll-free line at 08031230631 for emergencies to contact the Command Joint Operations Situation Room at 08035415405 or 08079210004 and Joint Election Monitoring and Operations Room located at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. Stay safe at all costs. Please do not be found involved in any form of misconduct as it may attract severe punishment.
Source: PunchÂ
