IGP Solomon Arase: moves to ensure fair polls in Rivers

The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase today ordered the Assistant Inspector  general of police in Calabar zone, Adisa Baba Bolanta to move on Monday  to Rivers state, where   rerun elections are due next Saturday, 19 March.

The marching order given to Bolanta is one of the multi-pronged moves by Arase to ensure a smooth and orderly election in the state, where tempers are already flaring up and politicians are in hot verbal  exchanges.

 Adisa Baba Bolanta is expected to be involved in pre-elections preparations with a view to emplace conducive environment for free, fair and credible election.

 Arase has also deployed three police commissioners to supervise security arrangement   in the three senatorial zones – Rivers East, Rivers West and Rivers South East.

This is an addition to the  6000 conventional policemen and 14 units of Police Mobile Force personnel (MOPOL), also being sent to the state to complement  personnel of Rivers State Command during the election.

“In addition, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Department of Operations, DIG Sontoye Wakama, has also been directed to proceed to Rivers immediately to hold meetings with Stakeholders and Police officers in the State Command on the need for peaceful conduct before, during and after the election”, Arase said in a statement by Olabisi Kolawole today.

The police top boss warned security details to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.

He emphasised that only security personnel specially assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.