The Nigeria Police Force has announced the deployment of no fewer than 15,000 security personnel for the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, as authorities intensify efforts to guarantee a peaceful, credible and violence-free poll.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Etaifo, disclosed the deployment on Wednesday in Osogbo during an operational briefing with police personnel assigned to election duties.
Etaifo said the security operation would involve conventional police officers, tactical squads, the Police Mobile Force (PMF), K-9 units, medical teams and other specialist formations, describing the deployment as one of the largest security operations for a governorship election in recent times.
He added that the operation would also be supervised by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) and an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), who are expected in Osun to coordinate strategic security activities throughout the electoral process.
“As I speak with you, the total number of officers that will come for this election, we should be expecting nothing less than 15,000. This includes conventional policemen, specialists, dog section, medical, PMF. The DIG and AIG in charge of these operations are coming”, Etaifo said.
Etaifo explained that although the election security plan originally required him to arrive in Osun four or five days before the poll, the Inspector-General of Police ordered his immediate deployment because of rising political tension in the state.
“I will be the CP in charge of the election. That is why the IGP has deployed me here. We were supposed to arrive about four or five days before the election, but because of the heightened tension, the IGP directed that I should come earlier”, he stated.
He disclosed that additional police personnel had already been deployed to Osun following reports of escalating violence and security concerns ahead of the election.
The police commissioner charged officers to maintain the highest level of professionalism, neutrality and discipline throughout the election, stressing that security personnel must operate strictly within the law. He warned that anyone found attempting to undermine the conduct of a free, fair and credible election would face severe consequences, irrespective of political affiliation or social status.
According to him, security agencies have been instructed to deal decisively with acts of voter intimidation, ballot snatching, violence, vote buying and other electoral offences.
Etaifo also announced that individuals arrested for electoral offences during the governorship poll would be transferred to Abuja for investigation and prosecution. He said the directive underscores the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure impartial handling of election-related offences.
“Arrested violators of electoral laws will be moved straight to Abuja. This election is a federal government election. Anybody arrested will be taken to Abuja. That’s the order”, he said.
The police said the measure is intended to prevent interference with investigations and ensure offenders are prosecuted without local political influence.
