Osun poll: Police deploy helicopters, drones, MOPOL for Saturday’s election

The Nigeria Police Force has announced extensive security measures, including the deployment of helicopters, drones, and Mobile Police personnel, to ensure adequate security for the upcoming Osun State governorship election. Force Public Relations Officer, Okokon Iniedu, assured residents of a safe, peaceful, and credible poll while protecting lives and property.

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Vote buying is an electoral malpractice and we will not tolerate any form of vote buying in Osun State.

Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has directed all deployed officers to maintain a secure environment and uphold the integrity of the electoral process. A strong warning was issued against vote-buying, which the police described as an electoral malpractice that will not be tolerated. The IGP emphasized that anyone caught engaging in vote-buying will be arrested and prosecuted immediately.

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The IGP has directed the Deputy Inspector General in charge of the election to ensure that anybody caught in the process of vote-buying be arrested and prosecuted immediately.

Aerial surveillance has already commenced across the state, with the Helicopter and Drone Units actively patrolling. Additionally, one unit of the Police Mobile Force has been deployed to each local government area. For the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), two units of combat-ready armed MOPOL personnel will provide security, alongside seven units of the Special Protection Unit responsible for the movement of sensitive materials and the protection of electoral officers.

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The directive of the federal police is that we conduct a secure, safe and seamless election.

Further security arrangements include the stationing of additional armed MOPOL personnel at the command headquarters for rapid response, along with patrol teams and checkpoints throughout the state. In a measure to ensure presence at every voting location, the IG has directed that four unarmed security personnel be posted to each of the over 3,700 polling units across Osun State. Security threat assessments have been completed in all 30 local government areas.

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As we speak, our air components have arrived, our Helicopter and Drone Units are on ground and they have commenced surveillance patrols across the state.