By Milcah Tanimu
The Kano State police command has issued a ban on police escorts assigned to VIPs and political officeholders from accompanying them to locations where election reruns are scheduled for Saturday.
Police Commissioner Muhammed Gumel made this announcement in an interview on Thursday in Kano, emphasizing that the deployment of police escorts to election venues is prohibited. He also warned against any form of thuggery and the importation of thugs by political interest groups.
“Policemen are banned from escorting VIP and political office holders to all locations where elections are taking place. Troublemakers are warned to steer clear of the rerun election venues. Carrying all sorts of weapons during the rerun election will not be tolerated,” stated Commissioner Gumel.
He further mentioned that stringent measures would be taken to prevent any attempts to undermine security provisions, cause a breach of peace, or violate the law. The police chief stressed that quasi-security outfits such as Hisbah, KAROTA, vigilante groups, hunters, Man O War, Boys Scouts, etc., would not participate in the rerun election.
Commissioner Gumel assured the public of the command’s commitment to providing necessary security in collaboration with other relevant security agencies forming the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Elections Security.
Restrictions on movement will be implemented in the six local government areas where rerun elections are scheduled, except for essential services like ambulances, medical emergencies, fire services, and similar emergencies. Only accredited individuals, including the media, will be granted access to the election venues. Rigorous stop-and-search procedures and patrols will be conducted in all LGAs where rerun elections are to be held.
INEC is set to conduct rerun elections in 66 polling units across three constituencies, with six LGAs in Tsanyawa/Kunchi, 21 in Kura/Garun Malam, and 33 in Tofa/Rimin Gado. The police provided emergency contact numbers for the public: 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926, or the ‘NPF Rescue’ available on the Play Store.