IGP Usman orders restriction of movement from Friday
Nigeria will witness a nationwide restriction of movement from Friday February 24, THECONSCIENCEng reports.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movements on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 midnight tomorrow to 6 pm on Saturday across the country.
The IGP said only those on essential services such as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, journalists are allowed to move on election day.
Baba, who gave the order in Abuja, said it is part of measures put in place to ensure a safe, secure, and conducive environment for the conduct of elections.
He said the restriction of movement is aimed at ensuring public order management, the safety of electorate, as well as assisting the security agencies in effective policing and preventing hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from disrupting the electoral process.
The IGP, in a statement yesterday by the force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, warned all security aides and escorts to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres on election day as anyone found flouting the directive will be severely sanctioned.
He warned that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties are to be seen within and around the designated election booths and centres.
Also, the ban on the unauthorised use of sirens, revolving lights, covered number plates, and tinted glasses is still in force, and violators would be sanctioned appropriately. All state-established and owned security outfits/organisations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guard and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.
While empathising with well-meaning citizens on the inconveniences that the restriction of movement may cause the IGP urged all active electorate to be law-abiding and turn out en masse to exercise their franchise.
He, however, warned that the force will deal decisively with any individual(s) or group(s) that might want to test “our common resolve and might to ensure a peaceful election.”
The IGP, therefore, enjoined all citizens to shun votes-buying, votes-selling, hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, snatching of ballot boxes, and other criminal act(s) as the force and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in ensuring all violators of extant laws, most especially the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), are brought to book.
The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, urged the public to contact the Nigeria Police Force and the Joint Election Monitoring and Operations Room domiciled at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, via the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’ available on Android and ios, or via the NPF Rescue Me Emergency Toll-free line on 08031230631 to report suspicious persons, activities or request security response.
Similarly, other joint operations/election situation room numbers will be released by all state police commands respectively, for emergency contact.