The Inspector General of Police (IGP), has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement within the boundaries of Kogi State from 6.00am to 6.00pm on tomorrow.
He has therefore advised motorists and other road users especially travelers to use alternate routes to their destinations within the hours of the partial restriction of movement in the state.
The IGP, who said the order has become necessary considering the geo-location of the state which shares boundaries with ten different states, also announced the deployment of 15,969, police personnel comprising 4,969 personnel of the Police Mobile Force and 11,000, conventional Police manpower, and other security agents to the state for the election.
Arase, while noting that the police was not unmindful of the citizens’ right to freedom of movement, said the measure was aimed at forestalling tactics by faceless groups to undermine the electoral process.
Similarly, the IGP, has announced that all states contiguous to Kogi State will be heavily policed, while motorists and other travelers plying the affected routes would be subjected to rigorous and thorough search by security agents on stop-and-search duty in the area.
To ensure non-interference and avoid unnecessary complaints and accusations by stakeholders on the conduct of the police authorities in the state, the IGP ordered the immediate relocation of the Kogi State commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, until after the elections.
Arase, who made this known yesterday in Abuja, also warned security aides not to accompany their principals on Election Day, as only accredited security personnel specially assigned for election duties are allowed within and around the election designated places.
Arase, said the security measures put in place by the police was to ensure a hitch-free election, and credible electioneering process in tomorrow’s election.
Arase, in a statement issued in Abuja, said aside the deployment of the DIG in charge of operations,  Sotonye Leroy Wakama, to Kogi, to supervise security arrangements, three state police commissioners and three Assistant Commissioners have also been redeployed to the state to assist the DIG.  Arase, said: “The three CPs deployed to Kogi State will be specifically saddled with the responsibility of supervising security arrangements in the three Senatorial Districts of the State.
He assured all law-abiding electorates in the state of a secure and enabling environment to exercise their franchise, while warning troublemakers and persons not directly connected with the smooth conduct of the election to stay out of the electoral process.
The IGP, warned that: “the tough security arrangements in place will leave no room for any untoward behaviour, while any person, no matter his or her status, who attempts to test the will of the Police and other security agents during the exercise will be isolated, apprehended and brought to deserved justice”.