The Delta State Police Command on Wednesday warned all stakeholders who have or intend to employ the services of private security agents, volunteers, guards, or vigilantes for the purpose of securing/escorting electoral materials etc, to desist from doing so.
According to a statement by the Delta Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Chuks Orisewezie, the Police said it was dismayed by the way majority of the volunteer organisations were meddling into election/security affairs.
The Police reiterates that the responsibility of providing security during the 2019 General Election rests on the Police in collaboration with other security agencies; namely: Police, Army, Navy, Civil Defence, Federal Road Safety, Immigration, Air Force, and DSS etc.
The command said it will deal ruthlessly with any of such armed private security personnel in whatever form or guise, caught meddling with the electoral process.
This is coming in the heels of an alleged scuffle between the police and some vigilantes groups from Udu council area which led to the arrest of three suspects.
“A reference point are the three suspects , David Ukiri, Alfred Joseph and Uvwiejibobor Akpevwe , all of Udu in Udu Local Government, arrested with arms, by a detachment of police officers deployed to CBN to secure electoral materials. The men claimed to be members of vigilante groups and were detailed by their chairman to escort electoral materials,” the statement reads.
Francis Sadhere, Warri
