The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase has disclosed that 14,000 Police Officers and men would be deployed to Bayelsa State for the Saturday governorship election.
The 14,000 Policemen would assist the two Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGs), Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5 and zone 6 and two Commissioners of Police that have been deployed to the state.
He assured the people of the state that the police will ensure robust security for the distribution of materials and INEC officials and ensure that the election is peaceful, free and fair.
Arase denied that the Police is part of a grand plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the election using federal might, noting the Police is apolitical which is to provide the enabling environment for INEC to conduct the election.
He said the roads, waterways and creeks of the state will be shut down during the duration of the election in the eight local government areas of the state.
On the allegation and counter allegation by the political parties on the recruitment of thugs and deployment of fake policemen for the election, Arase said such investments by any of the political parties is a waste as the police has initiated special identification code for proper identity fixation of personnel during the polls.
“We did it few weeks ago in Kogi and we are going to replicate it here. We are going to deploy 14,000 officers to all the eight local governments and the water ways. We are ready. It would not be possible to bring fake Policemen because we have identification for all the Policemen. Anybody that is investing by trying that is bad investment because it is not going to work. The Police is apolitical, we are law enforcement agents to enforce law. Our own is to provide the enabling environment for people to vote. I don’t know about how the issue of federal might, that cannot happen under my watch. We have developed a unique identification number for the police. All those who invested their time and money to sow uniforms and recruit fake policemen should consider it a bad investment.”
