Police Restrict Movement, Urge Travellers To Avoid Kogi
THE police high command has advised travellers
passing through the Kogi State capital, Lokoja,
and other towns in the state to either put off
their journey or take alternative routes because
of the restriction of moment over today’s
gubernatorial election in the state.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police
in charge of Operations, Mr. Sotonye
Wakama, who addressed journalists in
Lokoja yesterday, said the advice was
necessary because restriction of
movement in Kogi is within the period of
the governorship election (6.30am to
6pm).
He said the restriction is to enable INEC
staff and security personnel on election
duties perform their duties effectively
without interruptions.
“The restriction order is to also enable
registered voters walk to their voting
units without any hindrance to cast their
votes and immediately after leave if they
wish to do so.
“Thus, there will be some inconvenience
for persons who may be travelling from
North to Abuja and elsewhere in the
North.
“If you know you are going to travel
through Kogi for any reason, I will
suggest that if you can, you postpone or
delay that trip or perhaps you take
alternative routes around Kogi, other
than within Kogi,” he said.
He said for those who may still wish to
travel, in spite of the advice, they would
certainly be stopped and searched
because of intelligence reports that some
persons were trying to move in all
manner of things, including arms and
thugs, into the state.
The DIG said men of the Police had been
directed to ensure thorough checking of
all vehicles passing through the state, in
view of security reports that some
persons were planning to disrupt the
peaceful process of the election.
“So, we will screen everybody thoroughly
and this could amount to inconvenience
to some of those legitimate road users.
“The second reason is that they would
constitute a distraction to the security
operatives from their duties, as regards
the election and we do not want to be
distracted,” he added.
He expressed the hope that the public
would cooperate with the Police, saying
the restriction is for about 12 hours.
He said adequate number of security
personnel had been deployed across all
the polling units in the state and urged
voters to come out to exercise their
franchise without fear.
He assured that the Police was prepared
for the election throughout the 21 local
councils, warning those who have no
business concerning the election to stay
indoors.
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