17th June, 2016
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
The State Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike, made this known while addressing journalists on Friday in Benin.
He said this is besides the entire 7,871 workforce of the state police command, along with some operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) and other security agencies who have been put on red alert for the exercise.
According to Ezike, the security arrangements were for the APC’s primary election and subsequent primaries of other political parties participating in the Edo 2016 gubernatorial election in the state.
While advising impostors, trouble makers and those who do not have business with the exercise to steer clear of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, venue for the primaries, Ezike added that no security detail or escort of VIPs would be allowed into the stadium.
“I want to say that the police in conjunction with other security services are ready to do the needful; to provide safety and security to the delegates, officials, aspirants themselves and their agents.
“We are also ready to provide security to the good people of Edo State so that there will not be any bitterness, rancour and acrimony in the course of the primaries.
“As you are aware the party sets the rules in the primaries, so our job is to police the rules as set. However, violence is not a tool in an election,” Ezike said.
The Edo police boss disclosed further that security assessment of the venue has been carried out, adding that assess to some streets around the stadium may be restricted or controlled during the event.
He called on all stakeholders to support security agencies to make the exercise an exemplary success.