Police deploy four security personnel in each of Ekiti’s 2,445 polling units

The Nigeria Police Force has unveiled a multi-layered security plan for Saturday’s Ekiti governorship election, deploying four security personnel in each of the state’s 2,445 polling units.

Vehicular movement has also been restricted from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. on election day.

Coordinating Commissioner of Police for the election, CP Abayomi Shogunle, disclosed this Friday at the Ekiti State Police Command Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti.

He said the arrangement was built around an operational order approved by Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to prevent breaches of peace before, during and after the poll.

—Personnel and materials secured—

Shogunle said three of the four personnel at each polling unit will be police officers, while the fourth will be from other agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

He clarified that local vigilante groups, Agro Rangers, Amotekun Corps and other quasi-security outfits will not participate.

“Every polling unit will have four security personnel. Security agencies approved for election duty have been adequately deployed. Organisations such as Amotekun, Agro Rangers, vigilante groups, and similar outfits are not part of the election security arrangement,” he stated.

He added that all sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials have been moved under police escort from INEC and CBN headquarters to the 16 local government areas. Materials are currently under police protection at council headquarters and will be moved under armed escort to Registration Area Centres and then to polling units early on election day.

–Border and layered security–

Heavily armed operatives from the Police Counter Terrorism Unit and Special Intervention Squad have been deployed to boundary communities linking Ekiti with Kwara, Kogi, Osun and Ondo. Shogunle said border security operations began weeks ago with clearance of forests and remote areas to prevent infiltration.

“We identified potential threats around the state’s borders and responded proactively. As we speak, we can monitor movements into and out of Ekiti through all major routes. We have also established camps within forest corridors,” he said.

Additional security layers have been placed around major towns, collation centres, INEC offices and facilities housing NYSC ad hoc staff. The strategy, he explained, ensures threats intercepted at one layer do not reach another.

—Movement restriction with exemption—

Shogunle confirmed the vehicular restriction but said candidates writing nationwide examinations on Saturday are exempted. “They should proceed to their examination centres without fear,” he said.

He assured political parties and voters of police neutrality, noting personnel were trained to operate strictly under the Constitution and Electoral Act. He also warned against disruption: “For those who may want to test our resolve or cause trouble, we will come after them and ensure they face the full weight of the law.”

The CP said security agencies have partnered with traditional rulers, community leaders and civil society groups for intelligence gathering, adding that public confidence in the security architecture is high.