Ahead of the 2019 polls in Plateau state, the
state police command has given conditions for a
peaceful elections, saying all stakeholders must
play the game according to the rules.
State police commissioner CP Austine Agbolanho
stated this in a town hall meeting held in Jos on
Saturday.
He said, “I want to use this opportunity to
appreciate you for all efforts you have put in
place to make sure that the campaigns and other
political activities move on smoothly.
“In line with the forth coming 2019 General
Elections and the increase in the political
activities in Plateau State,
Command CP Austin I. Agbonlahor psc, fdc in
synergy with other security organisations and law
enforcement agencies have decided to approach
the elections from different perspectives.
“The Command has plans for pre-election,
election and post-election activities.
“In order to achieve a violent free elections on the
Plateau, all the critical stakeholders; the INEC, the
Police, other security and law enforcement
agencies, the political parties, contestants, youth
leaders and religious leaders must cooperate by
prevailing on the youth to eschew violence but
embrace peace. I want to use this opportunity to
call on the INEC to be fair to all concern and to
be neutral in handling the elections.
“The Command has also drawn an elaborate
Operation Order that takes care of all Services.
This is designed to cover the seventeen (17) local
governments in Plateau State, all the Registration
Area Centres (RACs), Polling Units and Voting
Points. The good thing about this new posting is
that personnel are posted by name and they can
be held liable in a case of any problem. It has
also given us a firm control over our personnel
and a fair distribution of personnel across the
State.
“The Command has taken proper control of the
SARS and its personnel shall be used
appropriately.
“The telephone lines of the Commissioner of
Police and members of his management team as
well as the Divisional Police Officers are in the
public domain and shall again be shared to the
stakeholders here for prompt report of the
activities of our personnel during elections.
“The Joint Operation Room has also been put in
place at the Police Command Headquarters and it
shall be managed by the personnel of all security
agencies.
“The regular meeting with members of the Inter-
Agency Consultative Committee on Elections
Security (ICCES) has given us opportunity to
understand our strength and synergise properly to
defeat our weaknesses.
We are also carefully monitoring the campaigns
and rallies of all political parties to avoid clash of
venue and other interests. I advise political
parties to maintain the maturity so far exhibited.
“The Command is carefully gathering intelligence
for proper analysis and better operation. This
intelligence gathering has informed and enhanced
our threats mapping to tackle the operations of
Sara Suka and other cult groups in the State for
violent free elections.
“On the issue of the Arms and Ammunition mop-
up, the Inspector General of Police’s window is
still open for people to willingly summit their arms
that are illegally acquired to the Plateau State
Police Command before it will be too late
“The abuse of drugs and the consumption of illicit
substances are on the rise and must be checked.
Political Parties should not encourage this for the
benefit of the larger society.
“The Destruction of Campaign Bill Boards of
opposing political parties should be discouraged.
Although, nobody has officially reported to the
Police but the social media is a washed with such
complaints. This should be discouraged by all
and sundry.
“All the above strategies can be a mirage if there
is no synergy and cooperation from all of us
seated here.
Let us all resolve to have the most peaceful
elections in Plateau State†he said
source: thenationonlineng.net/plateau-police-give-conditions-peaceful-polls/
