Sokoto Feb. 16, 2023

The Police Command in Sokoto State on Thursday vowed to increase efforts to ensure that no political actor or miscreant was able to subdue any part of the civil space in the state.

Mr. Muhammed Gumel, the Commissioner of Police made the assertion at a meeting with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Heads of Police formations in the state.

Gumel said: “Some emerging crimes are threatening national security and could undermine the security efforts towards entrenching a peaceful electioneering process, if not adequately curtailed.

“They include Banditry, terrorism and thuggery most of which have political undertones and in most cases the consequences constitute major security threats to democracy.

“However, in spite of the foregoing, the Police Force in Sokoto will keep to its statutory responsibility of stabilising the internal security order to keep the peace before, during and after the elections.

“Consequently, I am reiterating that all cadres of policemen under my watch will increase collective efforts with the military and other relevant security agencies.

“This is to ensure no political actor or miscreant is able to subdue any part of the civil space,” Gumel said, adding that the police in the state have launched crackdowns on the activities of quasi-security agents to ensure the process was smoothly monitored to the end.

“I wish to reiterate that national security interest overrides our personal considerations and desires.

“Accordingly, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, we have been directed by the I-G to send stern warning to all police officers to work in the most civil and rule of law compliant manner.

“We shall remain apolitical and leave no one in doubt of our desire to give effect to the charge by the President to ensure free, fair and credible elections across the state.

“This is to ensure that our personnel and other security agencies to be deployed for the elections have a clear knowledge of their roles and operate within acceptable legal and ethical standards which are in line with international best practices,” he said.

Gumel urged parents and guardians to counsel their children and wards to desist from being recruited to become tools to disrupt the electoral process.

He warned that the police, working with the military and other security agencies would not allow any person or group to derail the electoral process.