The Federal Government has deployment security operatives to safeguard the various offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission across the 36 States of the Federation.
According to The PUNCH, the security operatives deployed were drawn from the Department of State Services’ personnel, soldiers, civil defence corps operatives as well as Federal Fire Service personnel.
It has also instructed the security services to improve intelligence gathering, sharing, and utilization in order to stop political violence acts that have grown in scope over the past few weeks.
This was disclosed by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, during a meeting with the chairmen of leading political parties at the Force headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday.
He also disclosed that the police recorded 52 violent cases in six weeks.
Baba also stated that the NPF would be collaborating with the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Federal Fire Service to take decisive legal action against perpetrators of hate speech, incitement to violence, thugs mobilization, and other violations.
He said, “On our part, and as an outcome of the ICCES meeting, the Nigeria Police Force working in collaboration with other security agencies have resolved to enhance intelligence gathering, share and utilise same to stem acts of political violence; upscale the deployment of security teams to all INEC assets and facilities nationwide with teams drawn from the police, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Civil and Security Defence Corps and the Federal Fire Service to take decisive lawful action against purveyors of hate speech, incitement to violence, mobilisation of thugs and other violations, including the prompt arrest, investigation, and prosecution of offenders in line with the provisions of Sections 92 and 93 of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.”
