February Elections: We'll Ensure Adequate Security In Borno – Police

SAN FRANCISCO, January 07, (THEWILL) –The Borno State Police Command Wednesday assured that it would ensure adequate security for all residents of the state during the February general elections.

The state commissioner of Police, Clement Adoda, who gave the assurance disclosed that more men and officers of the Force policemen would be drafted to the state during the general election. This, according to him, is to check any breach of security by Boko Haram terrorists.

Adoda made the disclosure at a sensitisation meeting with political parties in Maiduguri, the state capital, saying “There is need for external support during the elections and I have talked to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on this.”

The Commissioner of Police also disclosed that the state Police Command was also exploring the possibilities of seeking additional troops from other states to beef up security during the polls.

“I want to assure you of our readiness to ensure peaceful conduct of the election in the state.”

“The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is in constant touch with the Command and had assured of assisting us with all the needed support to ensure a hitch free election in the state.”

“We are already considering the idea of getting external support from other Commands to ensure that we have adequate security on ground.

“What I mean is that we are looking forward to having deployment of Mobile Squadron from states like Lagos and Port Harcourt where you have more that one squadron in place,” he stated.

He did not also rule out the possibility of drafting the military to the state for provide support if the situation demands.

“The military is always on standby in every situation. But if there is the need for the military assistance to civil authority during the elections, be rest assured of our preparedness to

invite them,” he said.
Adoda maintained that the state cannot afford to allow another crisis, saying the Boko Haram crisis was trouble enough and should “political crisis now add up to it, the state would be in chaos.”

Warning the political elite against heating up the polity by using foul or abusive language which he claimed can ignite violence, the Commissioner of Police said the forum was designed to enlighten politicians on the

need to avoid violence during the polls.
“We call this meeting to rub mind with leadership of political parties in the state on certain issues concerning the 2015 elections.

“This is because election is a process and not an accident,” he said.

According to him, “Political parties must centre their campaign on issue- based arguments and not personal attacks.”

“There is the need for us to avoid the use of abusive language during campaigns.”

He warned that the police would not sit and watch politicians engage themselves in the use of abusive language.

“Any politician found to be using abusive language will be penalised according to the laws of the land,” he said.

He stated further: “I want to assure you of our readiness to ensure peaceful conduct of the election in the state.”

“The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is in constant touch with the Command and had assured of assisting us all the needed support to ensure a hitch free election in the state.”

“We are already considering the idea of getting external support from other commands to ensure that we have adequate security on ground.”

“What I mean is that we are looking forward to having deployment of Mobile Squadron from states like Lagos and Port Harcourt where you have more that one squadron in place”.