Police deploy personnel, anti-riot equipment to Sokoto ahead of guber polls

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have deployed more personnel and fighting equipment to checkmate political thuggery and related electoral offences in Sokoto state.

On March 18, the governorship and houses of assemblies elections will be held across 28 states in the country.

NAN reports that groups and stakeholders in the state had after the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections, appealed for more support from security agencies in the state.

Sanusi Abubakar, the command’s spokesperson, in a statement on Friday, said Usman Baba, the inspector general of police has ordered additional manpower and equipment to the state. 

Abubakar said the equipment deployed included state-of-the-art anti-riot and crowd management equipment, police mobile force, special forces personnel, and crowd control assets.

“This is in order to checkmate political thuggery and related electoral offences to adequately secure the forthcoming election in Sokoto,” he said.

However, he did not state the specific number of personnel deployed for the election duty.

Muhammed Gumel, the state commissioner of police, also said the command is “ready to deal with any security risks”.

“Therefore, residents should come out massively to their polling units and vote their choice freely without any molestation. 

“The IGP has boosted our strength, as such I want to assure you that with other security agencies, we will provide the required security for INEC to conduct the elections as scheduled.” 

He further urged the residents to keep calm and warn troublemakers to stay away during the poll.

Gumel said the command would use all necessary forces, and operational guidelines alongside the military and other security agencies to subdue any unwanted act that would disrupt the polls.