The Nigeria Police has announced plans to draft 14,000 personnel to Bayelsa state to ensure that Saturday’s gubernatorial election is free and fair and conducted in an atmosphere devoid of rancour.
This was disclosed by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, while in the state capital, Yenagoa, to commune with the personnel of the Bayelsa State Police Command.
He said a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and three Commissioners of Police will also be on ground to coordinate security operations.
According to Arase, the police were poised to replicate the success achieved during the November 21 gubernatorial election in Kogi state.
The IG also dimissed claims that one of the contestants was planning to clothe thugs in police uniform, describing it as a bad investment.
Arase added that the police had the responsibility of ensuring security while it was the duty of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election.
He warned the policemen to remain apolitical, stressing that any policeman caught in the act of unprofessional behaviour will be decisively dealt with.