Rivers rerun: IGP redeploys 6,000 police men

To further heighten plans to prevent electoral violence and ensure peaceful and orderly conduct of the Rivers State re-run elections billed to hold on Saturday, March, 19, 2016, in the already crisis infected State, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, has deployed three Commissioners of Police to oversee security arrangements within the three senatorial districts – Rivers East, Rivers West and Rivers South East.

The IGP has also ordered the AIG in charge of Zone 6 Calabar, AIG Adisa Baba Bolanta to move to Port Harcourt today, Monday March, 14, 2016 for pre-elections preparations with a view to ensuring a conducive environment for free, fair and credible elections.

In a statement made available by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, the IGP revealed that 6,000 conventional policemen and 14 Units of Police Mobile Force personnel (MOPOL), would be deployed to join the personnel of Rivers State command during the election.

Also, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Department of Operations, DIG Sontoye Wakama, has been directed to relocate to Rivers State immediately to dialogue with stakeholders and police officers in the state command on the need for peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections.

Arase assured law-abiding electorate of secured and calm atmosphere to carry out their civic duty, and warned all security personnel attached to politicians to desist from escorting their principals and politicians to polling units and collation centres during the election.

He however pointed out that only security personnel specially assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated points.

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