LG poll: Lagos police command explains curfew time review

LG poll: Lagos police command explains curfew time review

Lagos Police Commissioner (CP) Olohundare Jimoh has said the upward review of restriction on vehicular movement on Saturday from 3am-3pm to 6am-3pm was to allow people with medical, other emergencies get help.

He also noted that persons who had earlier planned international travels and might want to get to the airports will also be able to do so before 6am when there will be restriction on vehicular movements till elections are concluded by 3pm.

He gave the explanations during an interview with reporters at the command headquarters in Ikeja after a security briefing with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and head of special units on preparedness for the polls.

“We have adjusted the vehicular restriction time now from 6am to 3pm because of the fact that there are a lot of people with medical emergencies and medical appointments.

“Equally those who have had a long term plan of international flight of coming into the country and going out. So that time may not be suitable for what they are going to do.

“So restriction on vehicular movement will start by 6am and it will end by 3pm when the voting will have ended,” said CP Jimoh.

According to the CP, the police were fully ready for the exercise, urging the political actors to play by the rules.

He dismissed allegations that the police and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) were planning to compromise the polls in favour of one political party, stressing that security remained apolitical.

“There is nobody that has written any petition against the Lagos State Police Command or against me as a person that there is an iota of compromise from our end.

“We don’t compromise. We are clearly apolitical. I am not a spokesperson for LASIEC and I would not be competent to talk about LASIEC.

“But being on the same platform, we are giving level playing ground to everybody and allowing everybody to come out and show your popularity.

“It is only someone that wants to blackmail the system that will come up with such an allegation. I want to make it abundantly clear to everyone that the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command is not partisan in any form. We don’t pay patronage to any political party.

“We have ensured that we do everything according to the law and with the dictates of the Electoral Act, that is what we will continue to do.

“So if anybody is expressing some fear of losing his or her certain area, let such a group or group of individuals address their matter and not point accusing fingers on either police or LASIEC,” he stressed.

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On security deployment for the polls, CP Jimoh said there would be more than enough operatives in all the polling units, adding that armed security would be stationed at close proximity to the polling areas for quick intervention and response should the need arise.

“We have ensured maximum deployment and protection for all the political parties that are partaking in this election. There are 15 in number and we have 13,325 polling units across the 20 local government areas and 33 LCDAs in the state. We have maximum vital security for all these activities.

“As I speak with you, there has not been any incident of threat to peace or exhibition of violence throughout the period of this election. It doesn’t come by chance, it’s as a result of the coordinated adequate planning by the police force. We have been working together with other security and safety agencies to ensure that we are on the same page.

“Our deployment is going to be jointly under my office because we have what we call the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and we have been doing well. “We have met severally and this comprises the police, the military and other security and safety agencies. I co-chair the ICCS with the chairman and it has been giving out results.

“We have been meeting with stakeholders, the political parties under IPAC and all the representatives of all the parties and they have assured of good conduct. So far so good. They are conducting themselves peacefully and we want them to extend this spirit of sportsmanship to the period of the election,” said the CP.

Continuing, he said the police carried out a threat assessment to enable the service to know the flashpoints and areas of likely disturbances.

“We have equally sought the approval of the Inspector General of Police for additional personnel outside this command and he has approved the deployment of close to 10,000 police personnel to augment our strength in the command.

“Election security is what we have been doing for a long time- general and off season- We know that the local government election is the one closest to the grassroots where every representative are picked from and so we considered that fact in our deployment.

“We appreciate the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for approval additional deployment of personnel and equipment to the command to ensure there is overwhelming security deployment during this election.

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“There will be enough police personnel in each of the polling units. We have equally strengthened cooperation with other agencies and identified where they are going to deploy.

“We have ensured continuous raid of criminal hideouts throughout state and have removed a lot of them from the streets. We have a plan in place to ensure that we nip in the bud, any form of threat to safety during this period and even beyond,” he added.

Aside from the 10,000 personnel deployed from outside the state, the IGP also ordered the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) commands from the southwest states to provide backup.

Speaking on the show-of-force conducted earlier, CP Jimoh said it was a confidence building patrol which comprised the police, military, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Federal Fire Service and other government security and safety agencies.

The Nation reports that the show which commenced at the command headquarters in Ikeja, marched through Ikeja, Agege, Oshodi, Mushin and environs.

“This is a form of confidence building for the people to be fully assured that they are safe to come out. And it is equally of note to let the people know that there is a warning to who will be criminal and those people who are planning to foment trouble.

“They know that there is no place they can put their leg in causing distortion for the process. So this equally will get the officers and men on the show of force exercise to be familiar equally with the terrain and be able to have control of the entire security situation.

So like the question you asked me we are good to go. Our deployment has been completed and areas of shortcomings addressed.

“I wanted to use this opportunity to get it across to Lagosians and visitors that the state is safe. We are going to ensure maximum security for everyone- electorates, electoral officials, adhoc staff,” said CP Jimoh.

Of importance, he said, was the lecture to policemen on election duty to give special attention to physically challenged individuals who would come out to vote as well as the elderly.

Acknowledging that problems could arise after results have been announced, the CP said the security plan also made arrangements for such situations. He said players have been advised to ensure that the channel their grievances without causing disturbance to the peaceful atmosphere being enjoyed in the state.

“Anybody with grievances that doesn’t approach it in line with the electoral act and the law of the land will be apprehended, investigated and prosecuted,” he warned.

CP Jimoh cautioned persons with security escorts to leave them behind when going to cast their votes.

“VIPs, no matter the person or office occupied are not allowed to go into the polling booth with their escort. They will be there to vote as every other Nigerian to avoid issues or intimidation or harassment,” he said.

LG poll: Lagos police command explains curfew time review