IGP to Politicians: Give us the opportunity to Regulate Rallies and Campaigns

Usman Baba-Alkali, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has advised political parties and candidates to let the police control their campaigns for the general elections in 2023.

In an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Maiduguri, Baba-Alkali made the call. He said the measure was to contain any possible breakdown of law and order.

“I want to beg the politicians and political parties to give us the opportunity to regulate their processions, rallies and campaigns so that they don’t clash.

“The Commissioner of Police is not saying you must apply for a permit before you campaign or rally, but for him to know so that he can provide security for the campaign venue or to tell you if another party is also campaigning, for you to adjust to another date.

“It’s a matter of regulating for the benefit of all, to avoid things getting out of control,” the IGP said.

The IGP stated that while the force was committed to guaranteeing election security, the employment of phoney security agents by any candidate or party would not be accepted.

He emphasised the importance of community policing once more and said that the force had deployed the 10,000 police officers it had earlier hired to their various LGAs to improve community policing.

“Right now, we have another 10,000 recruits undergoing training that we hope to graduate before the election,” Baba-Alkali said.

In Borno, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) played a crucial role in exposing rebels in local areas to the police. He emphasised this function in relation to community policing.

“The successes we achieved in fighting Boko-Haram couldn’t have been possible without injecting CJTF.

“The CJTF assisted greatly as they know who is who in the area and led security to flush them out. That is what we want to copy.

“Security is all about everybody playing his quota; what your next neighbour is doing must interest you,” the IGP said.

During his two-day working tour to Borno, Baba-Alkali launched certain police projects in Beneshiek and Maiduguri.