Deployment: 3 to 5 policeman mount polling units in Edo

An average of  three to five policemen were deployed to mount each polling unit in the ongoing governorship election in Edo State. Our reporters covering the election observed heavy security presence in the ongoing election comprising mostly men of the Nigerian police with support from other sister security agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian […]

An average of  three to five policemen were deployed to mount each polling unit in the ongoing governorship election in Edo State.

Our reporters covering the election observed heavy security presence in the ongoing election comprising mostly men of the Nigerian police with support from other sister security agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) as well as paramilitary agencies.

There are 4,519 polling units where elections are holding across Edo State, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

With the deployment of an average of 3 to 5 policemen per polling implies that between 13,557 to 22,595 police personnel may have been deployed across polling units in the state.

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Besides the policemen deployed across polling units, other detachments of policemen were also stationed in some strategic locations and government facilities with others patrolling around the state.

Ahead of today’s election, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbotokun, had announced the deployment of 35,000 police personnel to ensure law and order during the election.

No raincoats for policemen

Our reporter observed that security agents on election duties, especially men of the police had no raincoats to put amidst heavy rainfall which temporarily disrupted voting across multiple wards and polling units (PUs) in the ongoing off-cycle governorship election in Edo State.

Daily Trust reports that PUs in Ovia South West LGA and some part in Oredo LGA witnessed intermittent light showers and heavy downpour, forcing INEC officials to suspend votings.

The combined security agents comprising Police, Army and Civil Defence Corps also left the mounted road blocks as only two soldiers of the over 20 security personnel counted had rain coats, while others had no rain coat to wear on their uniforms.

At least seven police officers were seen in the heavy rain without raincoats.