*Orders continuous mop-up of Illicit arms, ammunition
*As police recovers 182 illicit arms in 1 month
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
As the 2023 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections will finally hold on Saturday March 18, the Nigeria Police High Command says it has extended additional support to command and formation to enable them achieve effective election security management across the country.
CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, who made this known in a statement issued by him on Tuesday, and copy of which was sent The DEFENDER, said the support included deployment of personnel operational vehicles among others.
According to the statement Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.5/35, dated March 14, 2023 and copy of which sent to The DEFENDER, Adejobi said the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has also ordered that mop-up of illicit arms and ammunition across the country be continued.
“‘The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, CFR, has extended additional human and logistic support to Commands and Formations across the country for effective election security management during the forthcoming gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections scheduled for Saturday 18th March, 2023.
“The additional support includes the deployment of personnel, operational vehicles, non-lethal weapons, personal protective equipment (body armor), anti-riot equipment etc.
“In the same vein, the IGP has ordered the continuous mop-up of illicit arms and ammunition across the nation as part of efforts of the Force, as the lead agency in internal security management, to curb the trafficking of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) within the country and mitigate any form of insecurity or threats to the ongoing electoral processes and general safety of Nigeria.
“The IGP confirmed that within one month from the handover of previously recovered arms and ammunition to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) on the 16th of February, 2023, the Nigeria Police has recovered additional 182 sophisticated arms and 430 ammunition of various calibres. He ordered all Commands and Formations to intensify efforts towards decimating the proliferation of illicit arms and ammunition in the country.
“Furthermore, the Inspector-General of Police has charged all Strategic Police Managers to deploy the additional distributed operational assets and manpower to ensure the emplacement of a proper security arrangement for the upcoming elections as all hands must be on deck to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and secure environment.”
