No fewer than 20,000 policemen have been deployed in Kogi State to maintain law and order in the governorship election holding today.
The officers were sent from the Force Headquaters, Abuja and other divisions around the state.
Police Public Relations Officer in Kogi State, Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, told The Nation yesterday that at least 20,000 police officers were expected.
It could be more, he added.
“Right now, officers deployed for the election are still arriving. Many are already here but we are still expecting more officers.
“We are expecting a total of about 20,000 policemen. The number could be more than that or less, but I cannot be very definite now,” the police spokesman said.
The figure, Okasanmi said, is besides the deployment of men of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, the State Security Service, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi Police Command, and Chairman, Inter-Agency Committee on Election Security, Mr John Abrakasanga, told The Nation on the phone yesterday that movement would be restricted from 8 am till 4 pm today.
According to him, movement of persons will be restricted to their polling units, while politicians will not be allowed to go about with police orderlies.
Speaking earlier at an election stakeholders’ meeting, the police chief said security operatives were prepared to ensure the election is hitch-free.
He warned that whoever is found breaching security would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The commissioner urged voters to feel free to go out and vote without fear of intimidation or insecurity.
The NSCDC had ordered the deployment of 10,000 personnel from the Federal Capital Territory and neighboring states to beef up security during the election.
At the state police command in Lokoja, a group of armed police officers were seen waiting, apparently for further instructions.
Others were seen patrolling the streets of Lokoja.
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Police deploy 20,000 men