Election: Police restrict movements on Bayelsa waterways

The Police in Bayelsa said on Friday that movement of some water transportation facilities and river craft activities would be restricted during the governorship election in the state on Saturday.

It also announced that movement of persons, motor vehicles and tricycles would be restricted from the hours of 6am to 6pm on the election date.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Asinim Butswat, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, in Yenagoa.

It said that the restriction was from 7 p.m. on Friday to 7 a.m. on Sunday, adding that boats fitted with 200 horsepower engine and above was not permitted to move during the period.

“Any person or group of persons who violates this order will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

“Likewise, movement of persons, motor vehicles and tricycles will be restrictennounced d on the election date, from the hours of 6am to 6pm.

“Only those on essential services will be allowed to move,” it said.

It urged the electorate to go out and exercise their franchise “by casting their votes for candidates of their choice.”

The statement warned that the command would deal with political parties and candidates who fomented trouble during and after the poll.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, had on Tuesday in Yenagoa, announced that 14,000 policemen had been deployed for election duty.

The statement said that the police had increased patrols and intensive surveillance in all parts of the state.

“All political parties and their contestants should desist from any act capable of disrupting the election process.
“ They are advised to abide by the peace accord they had earlier signed and comply with the regulations guiding the electoral process,” it said.

The statement said the police had synergized with other security agencies to ensure smooth and credible election.