Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has assured that with the level of deployment of officers and equipment for the off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa State on 11th November 2023, criminal elements in the state will face a tough challenge from the police.
Speaking during stakeholders meeting with traditional leaders, party executives, police officers, and media practitioners in Yenagoa, IGP Egbetokun also stated that Bayelsans should not panic, as police officers will begin to dominate and take over security situations across the state.
He mentioned that the police have deployed speedboats and are making arrangements for more boats to transport sensitive materials due to the state’s geographical nature.
IGP Egbetokun also assured that the police would deploy gunboats to ensure the safety of waterways in the state, especially when transporting sensitive materials and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff to riverine communities.
He said, “Starting from Wednesday, Bayelsans will witness the presence of policemen entering the state. We are well-prepared for this election in terms of security. We have confidence that this election will be better than the previous one.
“We have a significant number of officers to be deployed for this election. Voters should not be frightened by the increased security presence in Bayelsa from Friday because it is for their benefit.
“We are confident that the presence of security personnel in Bayelsa will deter criminals. I won’t disclose the exact number of officers we are deploying, as those who need to know already have that information.
“We have deployed speedboats and are arranging for additional boats to transport sensitive materials, considering the state’s geographic nature. We are also deploying gunboats to ensure the safety of the state’s waterways. Thus, the challenges in the state’s riverine areas have been addressed.”\
