Elections: IGP to sanction policemen who desert duty posts during polls

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu Abubakar has warned police officers to desist from deserting their duty posts while elections are underway, warning that doing so will attract stiffer penalties to whoever is found culpable.

The IGP gave the warning yesterday through the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of planning and statistics, Usman Tilli, when he visited the Yobe state police command as part of last-minute preparations for the 2019 general elections.

“Any police officer found in an act of desertion will be dealt with in accordance with the rules of police,” he warned.

The police boss charged officers and men of the force to be professionals in their duties, saying their primary responsibilities during elections was to protect lives and property especially that of INEC officials and voters against threats.

On the level of police preparations ahead of the elections, the IGP said, “the Nigerian police is combat ready against any unforeseen circumstances before, during and after the elections. I am therefore, appealing for cooperation from all Nigerians in order to have free, fair and peaceful polls”.