Police ban political campaigns at Gombe, Kwara prayer grounds

Decorates 317 new inspectors
Gombe and Kwara states police commands have warned politicians and their supporters against turning prayer grounds to political rally, reminding them that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not lifted ban on campaigns.

While decorating 317 newly promoted inspectors at the Officers’ Mess in Gombe, yesterday, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Babatunde Babaita, described the promotion from sergeant to the next rank as a confirmation that “the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) is monitoring you people and is satisfied with your professional conduct and dispensation.”

Disclosing that the command took delivery of new kits for the rank and file, the CP said the new kits and the promotion would boost the morale of officers and men in the command. He urged his men to continue flattering the IGP with their attitude to work.

The CP’s orderly, Kehinde Ajayi, who benefitted from the promotion, appreciated the IGP and the CP for grooming and mentoring men and officers in the command to appreciable height, promising to further justify the confidence the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) reposed in him and his colleagues.

The police boss urged politicians to adhere strictly to the INEC timetable on schedule of activities for the 2023 polls.

KWARA police spokesperson, Okasanmi Ajayi, stated in Ilorin that shouting of party slogans would also not be allowed at prayer arenas as part of the measures for a peaceful festival.

According the command, vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles are expected to be at designated parking lots within the prayer arenas.

Okasanmi said observing prayers at roadsides and along the routes to the prayer grounds would also not be allowed, as restrictions of vehicular movements to the prayer grounds would be strictly enforced from 8:00a.m.

The police spokesperson assured Muslim faithful and the public that officers and men of the command were highly motivated to ensure that the celebration, which marks the successful end of the Ramadan fasting in Kwara State, is celebrated without any hitch.

“To this end, the command has emplaced a water-tight security strategy across the length and breadth of Kwara.

“Consequently, the eight area commands, officers and men attached to all the divisional police headquarters, heads of tactical units, command’s special forces, including Force Animal Department, Mounted Troop, Dog Section and Explosive Ordnance Department (EOD) have all been briefed and reminded of their professional responsibilities of ensuring hitch-free celebrations,” he added.