The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Department of Operations at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, DIG Sotonye Leroy Wakama, to supervise security arrangements in Kogi State.

This is part of measures aimed at ensuring a proper coordination of security operations to guarantee a hitch-free election and credible electioneering process in the forthcoming Kogi State governorship election.

The IGP made the development known on Thursday in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole.

According the Police boss, DIG Wakama “will be assisted by three Commissioners of Police and three Assistant Commissioners of Police during the election”.

“For the sake of the election, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, has been redeployed to Force Headquarters, Abuja, pending the conclusion of the election.

“The three CPs deployed to Kogi State will be specifically saddled with the responsibility of supervising security arrangements in the three Senatorial Districts of the State. They are CP Isaac Eke, CP Peter Ogunyanwo and CP Sam Okaula,” Arase said.

He noted further that they would be assisted by an Assistant Commissioner of Police each, in their respective senatorial districts.

“In addition, 4,969 personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), drawn from different squadrons across the country, have been deployed to strategic places to complement the 11,000 conventional Police manpower, and other security agents already deployed for the election,” Mr Arase disclosed.

The IGP reiterated his earlier call on the citizens, especially the governorship candidates, party leaders, opinion leaders and other relevant stakeholders to conduct themselves with regards for the electoral laws.

He warned that troublemakers and persons not directly connected with the smooth conduct of the election should stay out of the electoral process, maintaining that the tough security arrangements in place would leave no room for any untoward behaviour.

The Police boss added that any person, no matter his or her status, who attempts to test the will of the Police and other security agents during the exercise would be isolated, apprehended and brought to justice.