The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has called for the reversal of a directive by the state government to the police to dismantle all security checkpoints within the state.
Addressing newsmen at the weekend, the spokesman of the PDP Campaign Council in the state, Mr Ayuba Aluke, said the party made the demand in the overall interest of peace and security of the residents during the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections.
The state government had on March 6, 2023 given the order for the immediate dismantling of all security checkpoints within the state.
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According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Meshack Audu Lauco, the decision was taken after due consultation with heads of security agencies in the state.
However, the PDP Campaign Council believes that the timing of the directive is questionable and suspicious, “especially at a critical period of heightened election activities.
Aluke also called on relevant security agencies to deploy adequate resources to the state to forestall any breakdown of law and order the dismantling of the checkpoints might cause.
He said, “So far, we have petitioned these authorities with respect to this development, and we believe they would act appropriately to sustain peace and security in the state, before, during and after the elections.”
The PDP also called on people of the state to stay calm, peaceful, law-abiding report suspicious movements and turn out in their numbers and vote for candidates of their choice.
Aluke also urged both foreign and local election observers and civil society organisations not to be discouraged by the removal of the security checkpoints, but to be resolute in carrying out their functions of observing and monitoring the elections without any fear.
However, the commissioner of police in the state, CP Oqua Etim, explained that the checkpoints were dismantled to avert truck drivers’ riot
He, however, clarified that the checkpoints would still be operational from 12am to 6am, adding that their removal would curb the impression that they had become tollgates where motorists were extorted by corrupt police personnel.
On the concern that the timing was wrong, CP Etim said area commanders and divisional police officers had been given the task of patrolling towns and villages in the state to avert attacks.
