By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has cancelled leave for police officers deployed for election security duties ahead of the forthcoming electoral period.
Disu also directed Commissioners of Police and senior officers to remain in their respective commands until the conclusion of the electoral process.
He said any officer seeking to travel outside their command must obtain express approval from Force Headquarters.
The IGP gave the directives at the monthly conference with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja on Wednesday.
He also directed all commands to verify their election security equipment, communications systems, mobility and protective gear and report their readiness by the end of the week.
Disu ordered Commissioners of Police to establish direct coordination with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the military, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
He further directed every command to submit daily situation reports to Force Headquarters throughout the electoral period.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations will coordinate the reports and brief him every morning.
The IGP said the police must remain impartial and professional, warning that officers found colluding with political actors, facilitating thuggery or interfering with voters’ rights would face disciplinary action.
