No fewer than 17,500 personnel has been deployed by the Rivers State Police Command on Saturday local Government election in the State.
Spokesman of the Command, SP Nnamdi Omoni, made this known in a statement in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
SP Omoni said the deployment of personnel and hardware was aimed to forestall possible violence and ensure free, fair and transparent exercise.
He said, “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that adequate security has been emplaced to ensure a peaceful exercise.
“To realize the full objective of the council elections and endanger a seamless exercise, the Command has deployed 17,500 personnel.
“The deployment will be complemented by deployments from other sister security agencies to maintain law and order before, during and after the election”, he said.
SP Omori said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Eboka, had directed total restriction of movement of persons, vehicles and boats on land and waterways before and during the elections.
He said the restriction would begin from midnight on Friday to 2pm on Saturday.
According to him, the CP who is Chairman of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on election security, also barred VIPs and politicians from going to voting centers with their security details.
“Movement of VIPs and Politicians is not allowed from their houses to the voting centers and, as preceded by the electoral Act. In addition, all entry and exit points to the State will be completely blocked until the election is over. No commercial activities will be allowed close to the polling units”, he stated.
