20,000 Cops For Rivers LG Polls

The Rivers police command has deployed 20,000 policemen for the local government election in the state scheduled for May 21.

Mr. Suleiman Abba, the Commissioner of Police in the state, told a news conference in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that other law enforcement officers would also be required.

Abba warned politicians and their supporters against unlawful brandishing of weapons during and after the poll or snatching election materials.

The commissioner explained that the police would deal decisively with culprits.

Abba further warned against violence at the polling units and collation centres, just as he insisted that malpractices would not be tolerated.

He said that bribery, corruption, impersonation, underage voting and disorderly conduct at the polling units, among others, would not be tolerated during the election.

The police chief advised politicians, their supporters and voters to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner, assuring that the police would diligently enforce the law.

The commissioner urged the police and other security personnel to make themselves accessible and approachable to all, warning politicians against moving from one polling unit to the other.

According to him, security operatives will arrest and prosecute politicians who contravene the law because politicians are not expected to monitor the election.

He added that there would be no movements as from 10 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Saturday, saying that the curfew would be strictly enforced by security operatives.

Abba said that all the flash points in the state would be adequately patrolled to avoid break down of law and order.

He commended the Rivers government for installing CCTV cameras at strategic locations in Port Harcourt, saying it had helped the police in crime detection and prevention.