Allafrica Post

As part of measures to perfect security plans ahead of the forthcoming general elections, the  Nigeria police has directed members of its management team to go to various locations in the six geopolitical zones to "re-appraise, re-evaluate and re-assess the force operational strategy" for the polls. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police in charge of Logistics and Supplies, Taiwo Lakanu disclosed this to journalists today after receiving brief from Edo Commissioner of police, Hakeem Odumosu at the state headquarters in Benin city. DIG Lakanu who commended officers and men of the command for their show of readiness for Saturday's elections, charged them to be professional in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.  added: "I am affirming that we are going to be nonpartisan, non-align, we are going to ensure a free, fair and credible elections to the satisfaction of everybody".

As part of preparations to forestall the break down of law and order in the forthcoming general elections, the police has led operatives of sister security agencies on a show of force along major roads in Benin city. The security agencies which are the Police, DSS, Army, Air force, Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Immigration, and the Nigeria Prisons were, also deployed a police helicopter in the show of force. The exercise according to the police was a warning to those planning to perpetrate violence before, during and after the polls to desist from carrying out their plans. Addressing journalists during a stopover at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) main gate, Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu said the police would not hesitate to clampdown on troublemakers. CP Odumosu who appealed to parents and guardians to warn their wards against being used by politicians to scuttle the elections, expressed confidence in the preparedness of the security agencie...

Operatives of the Edo state police command yesterday paraded five suspects involved in the shocking, barbaric and indecent assault meted out on a young Nigerian lady as shown in a video which went viral on social media recently. In the video, the victim, one Favour Ada was accused of stealing a phone by some men who stripped her naked and substance suspected to be pepper inserted in her virginal by one of the suspects as they shouted "Where is the phone?". The Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu paraded the five suspects along with others at the police command headquarters in Benin city. Those paraded in connection with the indecent assault were Otoghile Joel owner of the said missing phone, Lucky Igbinovia (AKA One-Man squad), Edobor Osemwengie, Kingsley Iyamu, and Ekpomwen Friday. The suspects who narrated their level of involvement in the crime, alleged the victim had stolen IPhone 'X' Max worth N400,000 belonging to one of them. CP Odumosu warned c...

As part of effort to dissuade electorates from selling their votes in the forthcoming general elections, Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), a network of civil society groups in the state Today embarked on a sensitization walk through major streets in Benin city. The sensitization walk which was tagged: "#Let's Cook Mega Rally Against The Selling of Votes", also took the group to some markets in the Benin metropolis. Speaking during a stopover, Edo CSOs Coordinator General, Leftist Omobude Agho urged citizens not to sell their votes, adding it is a right as well as power to demand accountability from those they have elected to represent their interest. Leftist Agho who led other members of the group on the walk reminded the electorates of the consequences of selling their votes, that every votes count hence politicians would not request for it in exchange for cash. Agho, while sensitizing the people on the need to avoid being use by politicians to scuttle th...

As the ongoing campaign for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari gathers momentum across the nooks and crannies of Edo State, the Buhari Support Organization (BSO) has advised   electorates to vote enmasse for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the forthcoming elections. A member of the organization, Dr. Philomena Aibeyuwa Eriyo who gave the advise while fielding questions from journalists in Benin City recently, asserted a vote for APC means continue implementation of Economy Recovery Growth plan and infrastructural transformation. Dr Eriyo also advised them to support and vote the APC for the continuation of the Social Programmes already embarked upon by the Buhari-led administration. "Those of us who have been following events in Nigeria knows who President Buhari is, starting from where he met the country , where the country is now and where he intends to take the country to. "This same people that looted our common patrimony for 16 years a...

In a bid to ensure peace before, during, and after the forthcoming general elections, Edo state directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday embarked on a sensitization campaign to major streets and markets across Benin city. The campaign which is in continuation of the agency's enlightenment programmes lined up ahead of the polls was tagged: A Road Walk Towards A Peaceful and Violence Free 2019 General Elections. Leading other members of staffs on the sensitization walk, the state Director of NOA, Mrs Grace Eseka charged the electorates to come out enmass to vote candidates of their choice. Mrs Eseka who advised against political thuggery and ballot box snatching, emphasized the need for citizens not to sell their votes as it is a right. The Edo NOA director assured them of preparedness by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as the various security agencies to ensure a hitch free exercise. Eseka who took out time to demonstrat...

A photojournalist, Charity Ozigbo-Esere was recently robbed at gunpoint along Sapele Road by Adesuwa Road junction in Benin city while returning from an assignment. Ozigbo-Esere who is a freelance photojournalist with Edo state government owned newspaper, The Nigerian Observer was dispossessed off her digital camera, mobile phones, cash and other valuables. The photojournalist who was not hurt while the robbery lasted had since reported the matter at Etete Police station in the Edo state capital. "On my way back from an assignment at about 9pm, a car with six occupants parked in front of the vehicle i was in along Sapele road by Adesuwa road junction, they came down from the car, pointed guns at us. "They collected my camera, ATM cards, mobile phones, cash, Identity card, voters card, as well as gold necklace and mobile phone belonging to the driver of the car I was in", Ozigbo-Esere narrated Confirming the incident, a police officer at the station who pleaded ...

The Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Edo state directorate, Mrs Grace Eseka yesterday charged stakeholders to map out effective strategies towards the fight against corruption as well as the promotion of transparency and accountability in governance. Mrs Eseka gave the charge in Benin city during a One-Day sensitization campaign to promote transparency and accountability in governance with the use of Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and Open Government Partnership (OGP) principles organised by the Agency. Eseka stressed that there is need for citizens to be educated on the rationale behind the FOI Act, hence the campaign by NOA to raise awareness on the provisions and understanding of the Act passed into law in 2011. "In addition, for a country to be a member of OGP, it must exhibit a demonstrated commitment to open government in four key areas: Fiscal Transparency, Access to Information, Asset Disclosure and Citizens Engagement", the Edo NOA Director said...

A Two-Day Capacity Building Programme has been organised for officers and men of Zone-5 of The Nigeria Police Force, ahead of the forthcoming general elections. The training which is on Democratic Policing and Election Security Management was convened by the Police force in collaboration with Hi-Tech Security Services and Training Limited. Declaring the programme open in Benin city, AIG Zone-5, Baba Alkali Usman said the training is one in a series of lectures being lined up by the Force Headquarters to equip officers and men. AIG Usman urged participants to take advantage of the training and apply same before, during, and after the elections, adding the success of the exercise lies on the shoulders of the police. The AIG Zone-5 who was represented by the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu charged the participants to challenged themselves and be counted on the right part of history as the world is now focus on Nigeria. On his part, Chairman of Hi-Tech Security S...