Off-Cycle Election: Police To Punish Officials For Escorting VIPs

The Inspector General Of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has vowed to sanction police officers who election officers arrested for escorting VIPs during the off-cycle governorship elections that were held in Kogi Bayelsa and Imo State.

Making this known in a statement by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP confirmed that those arrested by soldiers during the Kogi governorship election were police officers found escorting VIPs which was against earlier directives issued by the police force.

He said those arrested for escorting VIPs during the election will face disciplinary measures.

“Furthermore, in Kogi State, it has been confirmed that three officers who were arrested by soldiers and handed over to the Police were indeed police personnel but were found to be escorting a VIP contrary to directives. Others who were arrested by election officers escorting VIPs during the polls will also be sanctioned as such actions are against established protocols, and the officers involved will face disciplinary measures as a consequence,” the statement partly read.

The development comes just as President Bola Tinubu-led government on Monday directed that all police escorts be withdrawn from VIPs.

Naija News recalls that the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, made this known on Monday at a 2-Day Retreat for Directorate Cadre in the ministry held in Abuja.