Edo Guber Election; Police Commission rates performance of Policemen
On Saturday, the Police Service Commission has reported that, despite early morning rain, police officers assigned to election duty in Edo State arrived promptly at their polling units and ensured the necessary security for voters and election materials.
Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations, stated that while the officers generally maintained professionalism and courtesy, instances of vote buying and inducement were observed.
Ani said: “The massive deployment of Police personnel across the state initially seemed to have scared eligible voters but gradually built confidence and a sense of security as voters conducted their civic duty without fear in most of the voting centres.
” In Etsako West, East and Central Local Government Areas, most Polling Units had two Police officers that were complemented by personnel of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and Nigerian Correctional Services.
” In the Edo South Senatorial zone, Commission Monitors visited Uzebu, Ogbe, Ikpoba Oka, Egor and Uhunmwonde. Most of the Polling Units in Uhunmwonde had no Police presence but officers of Nigerian Immigration Services and Correctional Services held forth.
“The major highways in Edo State were locked down by men of the Military and Police Mobile Force Force.
“The Commission staff monitors were led by DIG Taiwo Lakanu, who operated from the Security Control Room at the State Police Command Headquarters in Benin.
“DIG Frank Mba led the Police team that included several Assistant Inspectors General of Police with Commissioners of Police heading all the Local Government Areas.
“The Edo Command CP, Nemi Iwo was fully on ground to provide the required support for effective policing of the Edo elections.”
