Police assure of security ahead of Bayelsa poll

[FILES] Riot policemen wearing masks stand in a street during a violent protest of Shiite Muslims demanding the release of their detained leader Ibrahim Zakzaky, on July 23, 2019 in Abuja. - At least eight people were killed in clashes between Shiite Muslim protesters and Nigerian police in Abuja on July 22, with a journalist among those shot dead in the latest bloodshed over the detention of a religious leader. A policeman was also killed in the unrest, which broke out when hundreds of protesters from the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), a Shia sect, marched demanding the release of cleric Ibrahim Zakzaky, who has been held since December 2015 on charges including terrorism. (Photo by KOLA SULAIMON / AFP)

The Police Command in Bayelsa, has assured of its readiness to provide adequate security during Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

SP Asnim Butswat, Spokesman for the Command disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Yenogoa.
He said that the Command had put in place a robust security arrangement to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.

Butswat urged political parties to play by the rules as the police would not hesitate to wield the big stick to forestall security breach.

He said restriction of movement across the state will commence at midnight.

“Political parties and their supporters are hereby warned to desist from engaging in any act of violence capable of disrupting the poll.

They are further advised to abide by the Peace Accord they earlier signed and to cooperate with security agencies.

“Security agencies have been ordered to enforce restriction of movement both on land and on waterways, as from 12 midnight of Nov. 15 to 7p.m., of Nov.17, 2019.

“Movement of persons, vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles will be restricted as from 12 midnight of Nov. 15 to the end of the voting.

“The electorate are advised to come out and exercise their franchise by casting their votes for candidates of their choice,” Butswat said.

NAN reports that 31,000 policemen have been deployed to the state by the police high command to provide security during the poll.

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