In Kogi and Bayelsa: Armed Men Overwhelmed Security Agents – Police Commission

The Police Service Commission has said armed men overwhelmed security agents during the Saturday governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.

In a statement issued by Ikechukwu Ani, on Sunday expressed satisfaction with the roles played by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in the elections.

“The commission monitored the conduct of police officers on election duties in Bayelsa and Kogi states on Saturday, November 16th, 2019, and observed that the police were professional in their conduct during the elections, while the activities of illegal armed men overstretched the capacity of these officers to protect the voters and the electoral materials,” the statement reads in parts.

The commission called on the leadership of the security agencies to immediately take steps to mop up illegal firearms to safeguard the nation’s democracy.

It said the interim report of the commission indicated that the police were very professional despite numerous challenges in the two states.

“The strong monitoring team of the commission to the two states observed the proliferation of illegal weapons, inadequate logistics and challenging terrains as militating factors,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the police in Lokoja on Sunday confirmed three persons dead during the governorship election held in Kogi on Saturday. 

This is coming as the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced the poll results from eight more local government areas.

The Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Mr Akeem Busari, who confirmed the deaths to newsmen, said the command was still compiling its report on the poll to ascertain the actual number of casualties.

Busari also said 10 persons were arrested across the state during the election.