The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mba, has praised the people of Edo State for their exemplary behaviour during the just concluded 2024 governorship elections.
He highlighted that the election was free from violence, thanking the Nigerian police, the Armed Forces, and various law enforcement agencies for their collaboration in ensuring a peaceful and successful process.
Mr Mba also reassured the public that post-election strategies are now being implemented, which include increased patrols and enhanced security around key facilities and major roads to ensure the safety of citizens as they return home. This briefing underscores a strong commitment to maintaining peace and order in the state.
He said, “I want to express my appreciation to the good people of Edo state for the commendable manner in which they conducted themselves throughout the course of the election.
“I want in a very special way, on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, thank them for trusting, for having a very big trust in us and for working with us throughout the course of this election, pre, during, and now that we are in the post-election phase.
“I also want to thank officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force, members of the Armed Forces, and personnel of other law enforcement agencies who supported us massively in the course of this election.
“I know you will want me to give an assessment of the conduct of our personnel in this election, and I will say without mincing words that officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force, supported by personnel of other law enforcement agencies, did excellently well during these elections. Throughout this election, there was no single threat recorded.
“The election was violent-free. There was no recorded incident of the kidnap, assault, or molestation of any INEC staff or other persons, other stakeholders involved in the elections. There was no recorded incident of arson.
“There was no recorded incident of serious assault on the police or members of other law enforcement agencies. We were able to keep the land, the air, and the waterway safe. Citizens were able to go out and cast their vote with minimal incidents.
“In the course of this election, officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force and members of other law enforcement agencies conducted themselves in line with standard best practices for policing elections. We were politically neutral. We observed due compliance with the laws and all the relevant guidelines surrounding the elections.
“There was no incident of misuse of firearms. We were fair, but we were firm. We were tough on the criminals, but we were protective of the law abiding.
“And so, it was that sense of pride that I brief you today. Now that the elections are over, we have activated our post-election strategies. We are commencing massive patrols of the state.
“We are putting in place a strategy that will give rise to high visibility policing. We’ll be conducting confidence-building patrols, show of force, and the protection of all critical assets of the states. We’ll be paying very special attention to public spaces.
“We’ll be paying very special attention to INEC facilities and government facilities. We want to appeal to citizens who have so far commended themselves excellently well to continue in that regard. You have nothing to fear.
“You have nothing to worry about. Just continue to conduct yourselves within the ambit of the law. We know that a lot of Edo citizens or Edo-lites who return to cast their votes will equally be returning back to their different places of abode.
“In that regard, we’ll be strengthening security around the highways to ensure that their journey or their travellings out of the states will be safe. “We’ll equally want to thank members of the press for the support they gave us, for placing their different news media at our disposal, for helping us to communicate proactively and in real-time with members of the public, for giving us feedback from the fields, and for working with us throughout the course of these elections.
“I want to thank you all, even as we wish Ido people the best of luck in everything they do.”
Watch the press briefing below.
