The Nigerian Police Force has announced a complete restriction on all vehicular movement during the February 25 election from 12:00 am to 6:00 pm
A statement by the Force’s Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Wednesday in Abuja said the restriction would be observed throughout the country.
However, he said the restraining order exempts those in essential services such as INEC officials, poll watchers, ambulances and firefighters responding to medical emergencies.
Adejobi said the order was part of the measures taken to ensure a safe and conducive environment for the conduct of the elections.
He said the restrictions would help ensure proper management of public order, voter safety and effective policing.
Mr. Adejobi added that it was also aimed at preventing thugs and criminally minded elements from disrupting the electoral process.
He said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, had also prohibited security assistants and escorts from accompanying their directors to voting booths and collation centers during the election.
According to him, anyone who violates the directive will be severely penalized.
“Only security personnel specifically assigned to election functions should be seen in and around designated polling booths and polling places.
“In addition, the prohibition on the unauthorized use of sirens, revolving lights, covered license plates and tinted windows remains in force and offenders would be appropriately penalized.
“All established and state-owned security teams, organizations, quasi-security units, and privately owned security guards and teams are also prohibited from participating in election security management,” it said.
The IGP regretted the inconvenience the movement restriction would cause well-meaning Nigerians.
He urged the active electorate to respect the law and turn out en masse to exercise their right to vote.
However, Mr. Baba warned that the Force would deal decisively with anyone who wanted to test their common resolve and power to ensure peaceful elections.
He urged citizens to avoid vote buying, vote selling, hate speech, misinformation and disinformation, ballot box theft and other criminal acts.
Baba said that the police and other security agencies would ensure that all violators of existing laws, including the Electoral Law, would be prosecuted.
He urged the public to contact the police and the Joint Election Operations and Supervision Room domiciled at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, through the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’, available on Android and iOS.
The IGP added that the public can dial the NPF Rescue Me Emergency toll-free number 08031230631 to report suspicious persons, activities or request a security response.
He said that all police commands across the country would release other numbers of electoral situation rooms and joint operations.
(YAYA)