The Bayelsa State Police Command has restricted movements in the state from 7pm to 7am between Friday, January 8-Sunday, 10, as 5,000 battle-ready police officers arrived Yenagoa.
In a statement, DSP Asimim Bautswat, said security agencies have been ordered to enforce the restriction of movement of boats fitted with two hundred horse power engine and above, and all river craft activities in the state waterways.
The police command warned that any person or group of persons who violates this order will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
In the same vein, movement of persons, motor vehicles and tricycles will be restricted on the election date, in the entire state, from the hours of 6amto 6pm, only those on essential duties will be allowed to move.
The electorate in the affected areas are advised to come out and exercise their franchise by casting their votes for candidates of their choice.
According to Bautswat, the state police command has beefed up security with increased foot, vehicular and waterways patrols, as well as intensive aerial surveillance in all nooks and crannies of the state.
“All political parties and their contestants should desist from any act capable, of disrupting the elections process, they are advised to abide by the peace accord they had earlier signed”, the command warned, and stressed that it has in collaboration with other security agencies synergised to create an enabling environment for the forthcoming re-run elections in Southern Ijaw LGA and other affected polling units.
He also advised Very Important Personalities (VIPs) to “desist from using security men to escort them to polling units on election date, as any violation to this order will not be tolerated”.
The arrival of 5,000 well-armed police officers to the state for the elections witnessed heavy security presence around the police headquarters in Yenagoa. The battle-ready police men were seen waiting to be given further postings for Saturday’s events in 101 units across five local government areas including Southern Ijaw LGA.
In an exclusive interview, Bautswat disclosed that the Inspector General of Police has assured of adequate security and personnel to ensure a peaceful re- run election on Saturday.