Chukwudi Akasike and Ted Odogwu
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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