The essential assets and facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission are to have the operational apparatus of the Gombe State Command immediately deployed around them, per an instruction from CP Oqua Etim, Commissioner of Police.
This is in addition to covert monitoring operations and intelligence gathering to stop crimes and other malicious activities.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Muazu, said that the commissioner’s order was in accordance with those issued by Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police.
“To ensure that enemies of the state do not destroy the ongoing peaceful political process towards the 2023 general election in the state, the deployments are to deter all criminal elements from having access to INEC facilities and to prevent any attempt to undermine the security around INEC facilities and to coordinate a swift response to emergencies,” Etim said.
In an effort to bolster security and maintain surveillance in the state, the CP further instructed the state Divisional Police Officers and their overseeing Area Commanders to guarantee the strategic deployment of tactical teams at INEC offices within their respective areas of responsibility.
