The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has announced sweeping security measures ahead of tomorrow’s bye-elections across 13 states of the federation.
The affected states include Anambra, Kano, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Ogun, Zamfara, and Niger. Elections will be held in select Local Government Areas within these states on Saturday, 16th August, 2025.
According to the Police Chief, the Nigeria Police Force has mobilized operational logistics to guarantee a safe and conducive environment for voters and electoral officials. The goal, he said, is to ensure that the process is free, fair, and credible.
As part of the strategy, senior officers at the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and Commissioners of Police (CP) have been deployed to assist their counterparts in the affected states.
These senior officers will oversee field operations, ensuring close supervision of security arrangements and coordination of all tactical deployments.
The IGP disclosed that officers from specialized units including the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, Force Intelligence Department, and other tactical formations have also been assigned to critical areas.
He stressed that this deployment is to forestall any form of electoral violence, ballot snatching, voter intimidation, or disruption of the voting process.
In a major restriction order, the IGP has directed a ban on all forms of vehicular movement within the affected Local Government Areas from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day.
The restriction, he explained, covers roads, waterways, and all other transportation routes. This is aimed at preventing the movement of political thugs, arms, or any items that could compromise the election.
However, essential service providers will be exempted from the restriction. These include Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, accredited media practitioners, election observers, medical emergency responders, and firefighters.
The IGP also reiterated the ban on security aides and escorts to VIPs accompanying their principals to polling stations or collation centres.
Similarly, state-owned security outfits, quasi-security units, and private security guards are prohibited from participating in any election security duties.
Egbetokun warned that any individual or group found flouting these directives will be arrested and prosecuted in line with the law.
He charged all officers deployed for the elections to maintain professionalism and abide strictly by the Nigeria Police Force’s standard operational guidelines for election security.
The Police Chief further urged the electorate to remain peaceful, assuring them that adequate measures have been put in place to secure their safety and protect the integrity of the ballot.
