Ahead of 2023 general elections, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has advised men of the Nigeria Police Force to be apolitical during and after the polls.
The IGP made the call on Monday at the Kogi State Police Command in Lokoja while on a working tour to inspect and commission ongoing projects in the state.
He told policemen of the state command not to throw away their professionalism, urging them to shun sentiments and premodial interest while discharging their duty.
Baba urged the operatives to remain loyal and honest to Nigeria by providing the citizens enough security for them to go around performing their lawful duties.
“Our expectation is that all police officers should be apolitical, ensure lives and property are protected during rallies and campaigns.
“When you are given a job, do it to the best of your knowledge without taking sides. Create enabling environment for all politicians to play the game by the rules,” he said.
The police boss emphasized on the importance of community police and advised the state police command to synergise with other sister security agencies for effective result in crime prevention and control.
Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Adeshina Yusuf, said the IGP’s visit would avail the command the needed strategy to handle crime and criminality bedevilling the state.
He said the rate of crime is high in Kogi because it shares boundaries with 10 other states in the country, making it vulnerable to attacks continuously.
He appealed to the police boss to assist the command to address the challenges of communication devices, shortage of manpower and other logistics to make it easier for the command to operate effectively in the battle against crime.
Also the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 8 Headquarters, Lokoja, AIG Asafa Adekunle, said the IGP’s visit would boost the morale of the men of the zone especially as the 2023 elections approach.
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