By Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
The Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu on Thursday assured that the police will handle the forthcoming general elections professionally.
Adamu disclosed that personnel of the force have undergone trainings at different times to prepare them to provide a safe and conducive atmosphere during the elections.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a training to strengthen media-police relations in context of the 2019 elections, organised by the International Media Support (IMS), Media Foundation for West Africa (MAWA) in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adamu, stressed the importance of an effective collaboration between the media and the police to credible polls.
The IGP who was represented at the training by the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Mr. Bala Corona, disclosed that officers and men who will be posted out for elections duty have a strict instruction to be non-partisan.
He also called on the media to provide accurate reports.
He said: “On the part of the Police Force, just like we are here for a training in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), we have trained and retrained ourselves, so that we can deliver during the forthcoming elections.
“We have been collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other NGOs for training, this has improved the quality of policing generally. The impact of these trainings will be clearly seen during the forthcoming elections”.
Cross Section of Police Personnel at the Training
Speaking at the vein, chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu , said the Commission has supported security agencies to prepare for the upcoming polls.
The INEC chairman said the Commission has trained the police as the lead agency for securing the elections to understand the role of the media during elections.
Yakubu, who was represented by the Assistant Director Broadcast Media at INEC, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ogbuaja, further said the Commission had explained the need for security personnel not to harrass journalists.
Cross Section of Journalists at the training
“We want to appeal to heads of security agencies to please instruct your men not to harrass journalists.
“Journalists are critical to the process and this is why we are making this passionate appeal that they be treated with utmost respect”.
Be the first to comment