The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, has approved the setting up of an Election Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Team for deployment across the states of the federation, to identify, analyze and mitigate threats, as well as carry out on-the-spot assessment and appraisal of the security emplacements ahead of the 2023 general elections.
This is in furtherance of the Inspector’s-General of Police drive for safe, secured, and credible general elections as well as ensure adequate security coverage before, during and after the 2023 general elections.
The IGP also appointed AIG Garba Baba Umar, psc, Vice President of INTERPOL and Director of the National Crime Bureau (NCB), as the National Coordinator of the team of seasoned and experienced police officers with extensive experience in managing election security. The team will also include AIG Force Secretary AIG Habu Sani, CP Election Monitoring CP Basil Idegwu, and the Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The team also includes seven other Commissioners of Police, fifteen Deputy Commissioners of Police, thirty Assistant Commissioners of Police, thirty Chief Superintendents of Police, and sixteen Strategic Officers of other ranks.
While reiterating the Police’s commitment to ensuring that the elections are safe, secure, credible, and in accordance with global best practices, the IGP tasked the team with ensuring the propriety of deployments, providing real-time coverage of the electoral process, and safeguarding against hostile external and internal influence using INTERPOL, anti-cybercrime, and intelligence tools and assets of the Nigeria Police Force.
In the same vein, the IGP reaffirms the establishment and viability of the Electoral Offences Desks domiciled at the State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCID) of all commands across the nation headed by the Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of the SCID. The Electoral Offences Desk is saddled with the responsibility of collating, investigating and prosecuting all matters relating to electoral offences nationwide.
The Inspector-General of Police has urged well-meaning Nigerians, international communities, and all stakeholders to assist the NPF teams in all areas, particularly intelligence sharing and regular engagements, in order for the NPF to be successful in the 2023 General Elections.
