There will be no vehicular movement in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states between 12:01am and 6pm on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, gave the order on Tuesday in Abuja, saying also that the order involves canoes, boats, ships and other means of transportation via waterways till the end of the election in the evening.
He said it is a measure taken to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the three states, adding that 80 per cent of the landmass in Bayelsa is covered by water bodies.
Egbetokun, who spoke through the Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi also barred some state security outfits like Ebubeagu and other quasi outfits from operations during the election.
He said the police had deployed both marine and gunboats in the three states considering the riverine terrain of the states, insisting that the states have been fortified with different security equipment including helicopters that will be for aerial patrol.
“In a bid to ensure a smooth electioneering processes, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered the distribution of an additional 220 operational vehicles, including water cannons, Armoured Personnel Carriers, gun boats for riverine areas, helmets, bullet proof vests, tear gas canisters etc, to the three affected states to intensify security arrangements for the elections to augment the already deployed assets.
The IGP further disclosed to newsmen that no fewer than three Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) have been deployed to each state for proper supervision of the election.
He said the DIG in charge of the Department of Training and Development, Frank Mba; the DIG in charge of the Department of Force Intelligence, Habu Sani and the DIG in charge of the Department of Information and Communication Technology had been deployed to Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states respectively.
