Off-cycle election: Police teargas women protesters demanding removal of Bayelsa CP

Police officers have dispersed some women who stormed the command headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, demanding the removal of Tolani Alausa, the commissioner of police.

On Friday, the women protesters said Alausa must be removed before the Saturday off-cycle governorship election for the sake of neutrality.

The women, dressed in black attire, asked Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector general of police (IGP), and President Bola Tinubu to remove the CP in order to ensure a peaceful election.

They also said since the IGP redeployed Mohammed Barde, the commissioner of police in Imo, ahead of the governorship election, Bayelsa also needs to follow the same pattern to avoid “favouritism”.

But the women were dispersed with teargas canisters following their refusal to leave the facility if their demands were not met.

A few minutes later, another set of protesters moved to the command headquarters to register their support for the CP.

The women had staged the protest at the police command headquarters on Thursday before returning on Friday to continue the protest.

Speaking to journalists, Ofem Arikpo, a deputy commissioner of police, said the CP cannot be removed, saying he has not committed any offence.

“At this point in time, the CP cannot be removed. Tomorrow is election. What has the CP done for him to be removed? He is doing his job and not voting,” Arikpo said.

Alausa was deployed to the state on November 7 and assumed duty as the 36th commissioner of police in the state.

Below are photos of the women protesting at the police headquarters.