As an aftermath of the Presidential/National Assembly elections held eight February 23, the Police have arrested 323 persons for engaging in electoral offences and other sundry crimes across the country.
Two officers were killed, with some others either injured or assaulted while carrying out their constitutional duties during the elections, according to the Police.
Speaking at the post-presidential/National Assembly elections evaluation meeting with strategic police managers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said he had directed the Special Electoral Offences Team of the Force to undertake detailed and conclusive investigations into all the cases, with a view to liaising with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure their prosecution.
Adamu reassured the nation and the international community of unwavering commitment of the police to work closely with INEC and other sister security agencies to guarantee peaceful elections and secure space for Nigerians to exercise their electoral franchise.
The IGP said: “I must, however, re-emphasise that just as in the recently concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Nigeria Police shall remain civil,firm, optimally professional and apolitical in the discharge of our duties in the 9th March,2019 elections.
“We shall, nonetheless, deploy all lawful assets and assert our statutory powers to deal decisively, firmly,and promptly with any person or groups that may attempt to disrupt the process.
“All political actors who might be preparing to threaten the peaceful conduct of the exercise are hereby firmly warned to play the game of politics by the rules as stipulated in the Electoral Act and to appreciate that national interest overrides their personal ambitions.
“Doing otherwise shall attract the full and appropriate response from the police and other security agencies.”
While noting that some officers and personnel made sacrifices for the nation’s democracy, Adamu sent his “heartfelt condolences to the families of officers and men who lost their lives during the exercise and I also sympathise with those who were injured or assaulted.
”I assure them that the perpetrators of these acts will be fished out and brought to deserved justice no matter their socio-political status.”
He explained that the meeting was called to address three major issues which, according to him, were to debrief strategic police commanders and undertake a comprehensive evaluation of police performance during the Presidential and National Assembly elections; perfect police plans and allocate operational tasks towards the governorship and State Assembly elections.
He said it was also to appreciate personnel of the Force across all ranks for their sacrifice, discipline and exceptional professionalism demonstrated during the elections.
“There is no doubt that the high sense of commitment to national duty, neutrality and courage accounted for the generally peaceful conduct of the exercise as well as the credibility of the entire process as attested to by local and international observers,” he said.
