By Gom Mirian
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba says a total of 781 electoral offenders were arrested in the just concluded 2023 general elections across the country from a total of 489 major electoral infractions.
The police boss disclosed this on Monday at the meeting with Strategic Police Managers of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.
The meeting aimed to evaluate Police performance during the 2023 General elections, highlight lessons and strengths, and dissect complex dynamics for subsequent optimal performance drew participants from across the country.
The Africa Health Report, AHR, reports that participants at the meeting cut across the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and other Tactical Commanders.
Baba at the occasion tasked all commands to submit case files centrally at the Electoral Offences Desk located at the Office of the IGP at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, for coordinated processing to INEC Legal Section.
According to him, the Police Force will effectively collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expeditiously and transparently prosecute the 781 electoral offenders apprehended.
The Police boss also charged the Strategic Police Managers to readjust strategies and operations towards ensuring a stable post-election security order and refocus policing attention on routine law enforcement duties.
His words: “I firmly admonish all political actors and their supporters to submit to democratic norms, peaceful means, and legal procedures in advancing their interests as the Police and other security agencies shall not tolerate the resort to incitement or any act designed to threaten our national security”.
