The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has banned the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun and Vigilante Corps from participating in the November 16, 2024, governorship election in Ondo State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement on Sunday, November 10.

Adejobi stated that no quasi-security organisation, including state-backed groups like Vigilante Corps or Amotekun would be permitted to participate in the election process.

Adejobi said this was in line with the established guidelines governing election security management in the country.

He said the security of elections was the responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force, other federal security agencies, and members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

The police spokesman added that the IGP has ordered the deployment of adequate personnel and resources for the governorship election, saying the deployment would involve officers from various specialised units of the Nigeria Police Force, including the Special Intervention Squad, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) and Special Protection Unit (SPU).

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Adejobi said the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, K-9 Unit, Federal Investigation and Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) and Federal Intelligence and Security Task Force (FID-STS) would also be involved.

The police spokesperson said the various units would work in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure that the election proceeds smoothly, without incident and in accordance with the highest standards of electoral integrity.

He pledged that the security agencies would adhere strictly to the guidelines of the Electoral Act, 2022, adding that measures would be taken to align with the principles of fairness, transparency, and orderliness.

According to him, in addition to ground personnel, aerial patrols will be conducted with police helicopters, while gunboats will patrol the state’s waterways and riverine areas to ensure security across all terrains.

Adejobi said the measures would serve as a deterrent to any attempt to disrupt the electoral process and enhance the overall stability of the governorship election.

Adejobi warned political thugs and individuals or groups against any act of violence to disrupt the electoral process.

The police spokesman said any act of violence or disruption before, during or after the election would be met with severe punishment in accordance with the law.

The Star