Be neutral during Anambra guber poll, IGP charges MOPOL commanders

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has charged the force’s mobile squadron commanders to be neutral during the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State.

At a maiden meeting with them yesterday in Abuja, the IGP said election security action plan would revolve around units of the Police Mobile Force (PMF).

Baba noted: “The decision to summon this meeting was informed by the need to create a forum for brainstorming on current internal security developments, reappraise the role of the PMF, being the most strategic tactical and operational arm of the force, review professional issues in relation to the activities of personnel of PMF and evolve a more potent action plan that will roll back the current security slide in the country.”

He continued: “Election security action plan will, as usual, revolve around units of the PMF. The import of this is that the task of securing our democratic values and guaranteeing a safe, secure and credible electoral process in Anambra State will rest squarely and majorly on some of you, the squadron commanders, here seated and some of your units.

“Most of your operatives will be deployed to deter subversive elements that are planning to threaten the process, while others will be deployed to secure personnel and materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as other critical national infrastructure.”

“While the detailed operational action plan in this regard will form a key part of our discourse during this conference, I must strongly warn you to ensure that you demonstrate high level of professionalism, strong supervisory capacity on your units and the firmness and courage which are the traditional hallmarks of the PMF.”

The IGP further said: “I charge you to cultivate the spirit of team work and inter-agency cooperation, knowing that you will operate side by side with other sister security agencies and officials of INEC. Above all, you must remain apolitical, while being ruthless with violent elements and ill-guided political thugs that may wish to test our common will to deliver a transparent and credible electoral outcome. I am confident that like other operations in which you have excelled, you will not let the Nigeria Police Force and, indeed, the nation down in this critical national assignment.” He reiterated that the repositioning of the PMF was one of his priorities.