The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has asked the police Electoral Offences Desk to launch immediate investigations into pockets of incidents reported during Saturday’s off-season elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, announced this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Egbetokun commended policemen and officers of sister security agencies for ensuring that the off-cycle polls were seamless.
He, however, noted that there were cases of violence and ordered an immediate probe with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
The force spokesman said, “The IGP emphasises that the electoral process in the three states transpired seamlessly, defying earlier threat assessment and projected challenges from various quarters.
“He acknowledges the exceptional efforts of the security personnel in maintaining law and order, safeguarding the electoral process, and ensuring the safety of citizens.
“In another development, however, the IGP notes the pockets of incidences that were recorded during the elections and charged the Electoral Offences Desk officers, under the supervision of the Deputy IG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, to commence immediate investigations into these incidences.
“The IGP expresses gratitude to all security agencies involved in the election security management for lending their support to the police for securing the electoral process; and he calls on officers to remain committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties, while emphasising the importance of adherence to guidelines, rule of law and standard operating procedures of their respective agencies for a more secure democratic institution in Nigeria.”