Bayelsa Supplementary Poll: Police Deploy Helicopters, Speed Boats, 5,000 Officers

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The Nigerian Police have commenced extensive security operations in Bayelsa state, including the deployment of plain cloth detectives and surveillance helicopters for aerial patrols ahead of the forthcoming rerun gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa State.

As part of efforts to ensure adequate security, Police has also deployed gunboats and speed boats which will complement the Police Marine Unit to convey security personnel and election materials to riverine communities.

The police also deployed armed personnel from Police Mobile Force, Special Protection Unit as well as Counter Terrorism Unit of the force to support the ongoing security operations in the state.

According to the force’s Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, a deputy Inspector-General of Police, was also deployed to supervise security arrangements and he will be assisted by one assistant Inspector-General of Police and three commissioners for police.

She noted that over 5000 conventional policemen have also been deployed for the election duty.

In the same vein, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has also placed an order banning movements in and out of the LGAs where elections will hold with effect from 6am to 6pm on Saturday January, 9, 2016.

However, persons on essential duties such as ambulance service providers, INEC officials, on-duty, security men, accredited election monitors/observers, accredited journalists; are not affected by this order.

The FPRO explained that the restriction is a strategy to curtail the influx and movement of undesirable and criminal elements in and out of the affected local government areas before and during the election.

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