The Nigerian Police Force has warned that none of its personnel deployed to man the inner rings of polling booths should be seen bearing lethal weapons during the 2023 general elections.
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, who gave the warning in Ilorin while delivering the maiden distinguished personality lecture of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, said the affected police operatives can only wield batons. The lecture was at the instance of the Centre for Peace and Security Studies of the faith-based varsity.
Baba, who spoke through the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 8 Headquarters, Lokoja, Ashafa Adekunle, vowed that the force would not tolerate acts that could jeopardize the peaceful conduct of the polls irrespective of whose ox is gored.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Professor Noah Yusuf, noted that individual and collective responsibilities for enhancing and supporting security efforts were paramount in the nation’s quest towards peaceful 2023 general elections.
Royal Times reports that Acting Director, Centre for Peace and Security Studies at the institution, Dr (Mrs) Ruth Abiola Adimula, noted that the lecture was convened to keep stakeholders abreast of their roles in the next year’s elections.
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