Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Police Command says it has deployed over 5,000 personnel for Saturday’s House of Assembly elections in the state.
The state will only conduct House of Assembly elections as its governorship elections comes up in the later part of this year.
In a statement issued by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Asinim Butswat, the Command said that it has also banned Very Important Personalities (VIPs) from moving with security aides on Election Day, as movement by members of the public would also be restricted.
“The Command also reiterates the ban on VIPs moving with escorts and security aides on election day.
“Security agencies have been ordered to enforce restriction of movement on land and the waterways from 12am to 6pm on 18th March 2023, with the exception of those on essential services”, the statement added.
In a similar development, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Duties in Bayelsa State, CP Mohammed Dankwara, has charged officers deployed for the election to be professional in discharging their duties and to abide by the operational guidelines for election duties.
He also wards off rumours of security breach in the state as the command has deployed both the tactical and mobile teams for security.
CP Dankwara, who addressed journalists at the Command’s headquarters during the deployment of officers and men to their assigned locations, on Friday, in Yenagoa, enjoined the electorate to come out en-masse and exercise their franchise by voting for the candidates of their choice.
He further urged members of the public to utilise the distress call numbers provided by the police and report any security situation to the Joint Operation Center on 09167322691 and 07034578208.
CP Dankwara who assured the people of Bayelsa State, particularly voters of adequate security before, during and after the house of assembly elections called on residents of the state to come out to exercise their franchise without fear.
He disclosed that the Command was working with other security and paramilitary agencies to ensure a rancour-free exercise.
According to the Police boss, contrary to rumours of security breach, he said that there was no security breach in the state, stressing that rumours of security breach was orchestrated to cause panic and put fear in people, and assured that the entire police command including the tactical and mobile teams have been deployed for elections duties in the state.
“As you can see right now we have concluded our deployment and everything is in top gear, and at the end of the day we are expected to have a rancour-free elections.
“We are deploying the entire command, sometimes it will not be wise for me to give tabulations but the whole command both the tactical and mobile teams have been deployed.
“I don’t think there is any security breach, some times people raise the bar just to put fear in people. You are a witness to the last election conducted last three weeks and there was no security breach, people are just trying to create panic.”