The letter stated that the Inspector General of Police directed strict adherence to the allocated number of police personnel and assurance of their presence physically.
The Nigeria Police Force has deployed 12,500 conventional police personnel and 400 tactical unit members for the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election.
The election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 16.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress is running for election to a full term. Former deputy governor Agboola Ajayi of Peoples Democratic Party and 15 other candidates are running against the incumbent governor.
A letter dated November 7, 2024, signed by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Suleiman A. Yusuf for the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations, directed mobilization of police personnel and logistics from various commands from across the country.
The letter was addressed to the Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police.
The letter stated that the Inspector General of Police directed strict adherence to the allocated number of police personnel and assurance of their presence physically.
It reads: “The Inspector General of Police has directed that you adhere strictly to the number of personnel allocated to you and ensure all are physically present for deployment to designated areas, as contained in the attached appendix.
“Personnel from SIS will proceed to Akure on Monday 11/11/2024. EPM&E, PMF, SPU, CTU, IRT, STS, and TIU are to move on Tuesday 12/11/2024. While Conventional Police Personnel from Commands, Formations and others drawn from the specialised sections of the Force, are expected to arrive at their respective designated areas of deployment on Wednesday 13/11/2024 unfailingly.”
A breakdown of the deployment shows that 12,500 conventional police personnel were deployed to the 18 local government areas in the state, 400 members of tactical units were deployed to area commands in the state, while 36 units of PMF (Police Mobile Force) were deployed to the local government areas.
Also deployed are 110 vehicles comprising 12 Armoured Personnel Carriers, five gun trucks, two water cannons, five lorry trucks, 75 patrol vehicles, five buses, one Razor and four ambulances.
The police also deployed one helicopter and two unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) or drones to Ondo Central, North and South Senatorial Districts and 20 gunboats along with 80 personnel to riverine areas.
The police earlier banned the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun and Vigilante Corps from participating in the election.
The Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement earlier said the IG had ordered the deployment of officers from various specialised units, including the Special Intervention Squad, Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Protection Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit and K-9 Unit.
The police boss also ordered that aerial patrols should be conducted while gunboats would patrol the state’s waterways and riverine areas to ensure security across all terrains.