Keep off polling units, IG warns private security guards

The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered that on no account should private security guards and members of vigilance groups be seen in uniform within 300 metres of a polling unit on Election Day.

The IG also warned members of voluntary organisations such as Boys Scout, Boys Brigade, Peace Ambassador, Man'O War and others to steer clear of the polling centres during the elections.

Abba, according to a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, also cautioned politicians and VIPs not to go to polling units with armed orderlies, noting that the use of siren, revolving lights, tinted glasses by unauthorised citizens would not be allowed.

The statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, restated the restriction of vehicular movement during the presidential election on Saturday and legislative election on April 11, 2015. The restriction will be from 8.00am to 5.00pm on both election days.

It reads, "The Inspector-General of Police, has ordered that on no account should uniformed private/government security agencies and voluntary organisations such as Boys Scout, Vigilante Group, Boys Brigade, Peace Ambassador, Man'O War etc, be seen in uniform within 300 metres of a Polling unit."

The IG re-assured the public of the commitment of the Force to the provision of round-the-clock security before, during and after the general elections for the citizens of the country and reminded them of their civic responsibility of obedience to all laws.

Meanwhile, the Police Community Relations Committee, Maitama Division, Abuja, has called on Nigerians to eschew violence and cooperate with the police and other security agencies during the polls.

The PCRC Chairman, Alhaji Husseyn Zakari, who addressed journalists, said Nigerians should not allow the selfish interest of some minorities in the. Country to jeopardize the future by engaging in violence.

Zakari, who was represented by Uwem Essien, said that the PCRC is working with the police to ensure non-violent elections and he appealed to the youths to shun any enticement from troublesome individuals or groups seeking to use inocent citizens as instruments of violence during the polls.

He said, "We need to ignore wrong insinuations and all forms of political misrepresentations and concentrate on the way forward for Nigeria such as enjoying peaceful co-existence, security of lives and property and so on."