The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has deployed 28, 000 police officers and men to Rivers to provide security for Dec. 10 rerun elections.
According to him, logistics arrangements had been concluded.
Idris said that three helicopters would be used for arial surveillance, each per senatorial district.
He also said that 28 gun boats would be used by the police to patrol waterways in the state in collaboration with Nigerian Navy.
The IGP, who also paid a courtesy call on Gov. Nyesom Wike, said that he was in the state to ensure peaceful elections.
He urged the people of the state to support security agencies to ensure peaceful polls.
In his speech, Wike told the IGP that the withdrawal of his Chief Security Officer (CSO) had exposed his life to danger.
”The moment you touch my chief security officer, you are telling me that you are ready for me. As I sit here, I am empty, I have no protection.
”What you have done is the highest disrespect to the Office of the Governor,” he said.
Wike pleaded with the IGP to return his CSO, saying that he would not be able to take anyone.
“I am pleading with you, my life is very important; I will not take any chief security officer you bring to me that I don’t know.
”This is a matter of security and protection, it is not what you do with levity.”
Wike said that the IGP did not consult him before redeploying the CSO.
The governor said that he was shocked by a statement released by the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, saying that his CSO was withdrawn for misconduct.
He told the IGP that, on the contrary, the CSO only stopped an APC crowd from invading the government house.
He urged the police to be unbiased during the election, saying that Rivers people would support an unbiased police but would resist any attempt to use security agencies for untoward electoral action.
Wike accused the police of declaring a state-wide curfew in Rivers without consultating with the state security council.
No comments: