The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba has faulted reported relocation of some Nigerians to their home states for fear that the February elections will erupt in violence. He stated that such panic travels were unnecessary. Disclosing this yesterday while meeting with Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Command Commissioners of Police (CPs) in Abuja, the police boss asserted that the Force has directed its zonal and state commands to hold a meeting with all contestants in their domains so as to ensure peaceful polls.
The IGP, who was reacting to a report that most Nigerians are travelling ‘home’ for fear of electoral violence, insisted that it would be unnecessary for anyone to start embarking on a journey in fright that the polity would be inundated with violence. He based his assertion on his men’s effort in putting plans in place to tackle incidents of violence should they arise.
According to Abba, “We even took note of the report that some people are relocating to other places, but we want to assure everyone that the police have been strategising and would implement those strategies. We have instructions issued out and the INEC has done its best to implement those directives.
“Movement from one part of the country to the other is not the right thing; we should as stakeholders work towards a violent free peaceful process. The purpose for the establishment of political parties is for the parties to learn to work for the people.
“Section 24 of the constitution makes it clear that everyone has a responsibility, relocating is therefore not the answer. Working towards convincing those who are fanning the embers of violence to shun this road is the best answer, the politicians should lead in this regard.
“They should not arm their members for violence, nor condone such acts that tend to depict or leads to violent behaviours. It is a collective responsibility, all stakeholders need to come together, particularly the contestants and sign peace accord so that their members will understand that the game is played according to the law, not according to their whims,” he said.
The police boss added that it was a collective responsibility of all Nigerians, as stakeholders to steer clear any act that would cause any form of destruction within the period of the elections. He also disclosed that those who were arrested in connection with violent conducts during last week campaigns were going through series of investigation.
Abba further said, “In our effort to prevent violence, before, during and after the election, AIGs will lead the CPs in the zones to prevent violence, they will bring together all the contestants, to discuss how best to work together and come out with peace accords.
“Once that is done and it is done wholeheartedly, their followers will take it for good and be partners in activities that would ensure peace during the period.”
While stressing that all preparations have been made by the INEC in collaboration with other security outfits to provide the needed security for Nigerians to come out and cast their votes, the IGP said, “We also want to restate that we’ll make adequate arrangements to provide security for INEC, the officials who are managers of the conduct of the elections, including the materials that they will be using, so that they discharge their responsibilities efficiently.”
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