Osun guber: IGP deploy DIG, 3 helicopters, 6 drones, ensure adequate security

Ahead of Saturday's gubernatorial election in Osun State, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba on Sunday ordered the immediate deployment of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in charge of the Force's criminal investigation department. (FCID) who is the Oversight DIG for the Southwest Geopolitical Zone, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, to the state to ensure a smooth ballot.

This was in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, CSP Olumyiwa Adajobi

According to the statement, the DIG “is to be assisted by four Deputy Inspectors General of Police, AIGs, four Commissioners of Police, 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police and 30 Deputy Commissioners of Police.”

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He added that adequate police personnel at the rank of Chief Superintendents of Police and below have also been deployed for the election.

According to the statement, "DIG Kokumo is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the operation order resulting from the election security threat assessment, ensuring a peaceful and conducive environment free from violence, and ensure law-abiding citizens in the state have a safe space to freely exercise their civic responsibilities without aggression or intimidation.

“Other senior deployed officers are responsible for coordinating human and other operational deployments to the three (3) Senate Districts, thirty (30) Local Government Areas and 3,753 polling stations in the State of 'Osun.

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The statement further explained that the IGP also ordered the deployment of the Police Commissioner and Provost at Force Headquarters, CP Julius Alawari to Osun State for the elections, while the CP Olokode Taoheed Olawale, the Osun State Police Commissioner was temporarily transferred to Force Headquarters until the end of the election.

He added that the IGP would meet with stakeholders in Osogbo on Tuesday 12th and stressed that the operational deployments were part of actions to create an enabling and conducive environment that will ensure the peaceful and proper conduct of the election of the governor.

The IGP further noted that the personnel, consisting of conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel , Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit (SPU), Police Airwing, Public Relations Department (FPRD) , along with police medical teams, would be on the ground to ensure free, fair, credible and acceptable elections.

He added that in addition, five armored personnel carriers for patrol as well as three helicopters and six unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for aerial surveillance, among other unique operational assets, have also been deployed.

He reassured the nation and the international community that the force was satisfactorily prepared for the election and reiterated the force's commitment to work in synergy with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all parties stakeholders and other security agencies to protect democratic values, provide a level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC officials, equipment, accredited observers, both national and international, and other key state actors.