March 18 Guber Elections: IGP Extends Additional Support To Commands/Formations For Effective Election Security Management

Orders Continuous Mop-Up of Illicit Arms/Ammunition as Police Recovers 182 Illicit Arms in 1 Month

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has extended additional human and logistic support to Commands and Formations across the country for effective election security management during the forthcoming gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections scheduled for Saturday 18th March 2023.

A statement on Tuesday, 4th March 2023 signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the additional support includes the deployment of personnel, operational vehicles, non-lethal weapons, personal protective equipment (body armour), anti-riot equipment, etc.

In the same vein, the IGP has ordered the continuous mop-up of illicit arms and ammunition across the nation as part of efforts of the Force, as the lead agency in internal security management, to curb the trafficking of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) within the country and mitigate any form of insecurity or threats to the ongoing electoral processes and general safety of Nigeria.

The IGP confirmed that within one month from the handover of previously recovered arms and ammunition to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) on the 16th of February, 2023, the Nigeria Police has recovered additional 182 sophisticated arms and 430 ammunitions of various calibers. He ordered all Commands and Formations to intensify efforts toward decimating the proliferation of illicit arms and ammunition in the country.

Furthermore, the Inspector-General of Police has charged all Strategic Police Managers to deploy the additional distributed operational assets and manpower to ensure the emplacement of a proper security arrangement for the upcoming elections as all hands must be on deck to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and secure environment.