The Edo State Police Command on Saturday said the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had on the request of the state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, approved the deployment of policemen in the state for the conduct of the APC direct primaries.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Chidi Nwabuzor, newsmen in an interview that the state had received two detachments of Police Mobile Force from Delta and Bayelsa states, noting that some were already in Benin City while others are expected.
He, however, did not disclose the number of policemen for the primaries.
He said, “The Edo State Police Command is ready to ensure that there are peaceful primaries and in doing that adequate security arrangements have been made by the Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo. He is not doing it alone, he is working with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state.
“Critical stakeholders have been reached. We have 192 wards in Edo State and the tactical teams from command levels will move to these wards according to their posting.”
Also, the Head, Public Relations, NSCDC Edo State Command, Mr Efosa Ogbebor, said the command would make use of armed and unmarked personnel for the exercise.
He added, “We do not disclose the number of personnel for security reasons. However, we have deployed adequate personnel, both armed and unarmed as well as intelligence for the party primaries. They are specifically for the exercise. We are fully on the ground with other security agencies to ensure that the exercise is carried out peacefully.”
