About 20,000 marine police would be deployed to monitor the Rivers State rerun election slated for December 10, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has said.
The IG disclosed this in Kano on Saturday shortly after taking delivery of 25 Toyota Hilux vans donated by the Kano State Government to the state police command.
Idris also said the police would employ air surveillance to monitor the poll.
He further commended officers of the state police command, adding, “We are determined to re-enact the standard set during the recently concluded Ondo State election.”
Thanking the state government for the donation, Idris noted that the police could not ensure adequate peace and security in the country without the support of the public.
According to him, kidnappers, armed robbers and herdsmen, perpetrating crime cannot be unmasked without the communities assisting security agents with useful information.
While inaugurating the ‘Change begins with me,’ the IG noted that the people, irrespective of their tribe or religion, should contribute their quota to ensure the success of the campaign.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, represented by his deputy, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, said the police did not disappoint the Kano people in their fight against insurgency.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has accused the IG of meeting with the leaders of some All Progressives Congress leaders in the state to manipulate the poll.
Wike claimed that he got information from competent APC sources that the IG, two nights ago, assured the party leaders that three other commissioners of police would be deployed to help the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to rig the election.
The governor, who made this allegation while inaugurating the rehabilitation of a hospital, said the APC was afraid of campaigning after inflicting hardship on Nigerians.
Wike maintained that Rivers State was not like other states where APC governors and security agencies were used to intimidate the people to pave the way for rigging.
Reacting, the state APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Finebone, dismissed Wike’s claim, saying the governor was raising unnecessary alarm in order to carry out his agenda.
Finebone said, “Is it the IG’s turn to be accused now? The governor’s allegations are tactics whenever elections approach. We are ready for the election and that is why we have been campaigning. The allegation is baseless and should be disregarded.”
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