1st April, 2011
The Police in Plateau State have raised an alarm over plans by some individuals and groups to invade Jos and distrupt tomorrow’s National Assembly elections in the state.
The alarm, P.M.News gathered, came on the heels of rumours making the rounds in the state that some armed men from outside had been mobilised to distrupt the elections.
This alarm has raised tension in Jos, the state capital.
A statement issued by the Plateau State Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Umar Gwadabe, however, assured the populace that adequate security measures have been put in place to guarrantee safety of lives and property in the state.
The Police urged members of the public not to panic and to go about their lawful businesses and come out enmasse tomorrow to vote for candidates of their choice.
Today has been declared a public holiday by the state government to enable the people travel to their local government areas to vote.Over 350,000 policemen and thousands of soldiers have been drafted to maintain peace and order across the nation ahead of tomorrow’s election.
Mr Mohammed Yusuf, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, in charge of Finance, Research and Planning Department at the Force Headquarters said that over 350,000 police men will be deployed for the April elections.
He said this on Thursday at a meeting in Port Harcourt with top police officers deployed to the Niger Delta.
Yusuf, who said police commissioners in states would be redeployed, pointed out that the objective was to avoid a situation where the Force would be accused of assisting some politicians to win elections.
He warned police officers to conduct themselves properly or face disciplinary action, saying some of the clashes between political parties during rallies would have been averted if proactive measures were taken.
—By Femi Adi/Jos
