The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ishyaku Mohammed, to Osun State to coordinate security operations for Saturday’s governorship election.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

PUNCH Online reports that the deployment adds to the previous mobilisation of about 15,000 operatives and a Commissioner of Police to oversee the security architecture for the poll by the IGP.

Iniedu said the DIG’s deployment was part of measures to ensure a peaceful, secure and credible electoral process across the state.

“DIG Mohammed will coordinate the Police component of the election-security arrangement and work closely with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES),” the statement said.

It added that Mohammed would be supported by AIG and CP deployed across the three senatorial districts to supervise operations, strengthen intelligence-led policing and ensure prompt responses to emerging threats.

The Force said adequate security arrangements had been made for the protection of voters, Independent National Electoral Commission personnel, election materials, polling units, collation centres, accredited observers and media practitioners before, during and after the election.

The IGP warned political actors, their supporters and other persons planning to disrupt the election that ballot snatching, voter intimidation, political thuggery and other electoral offences would attract arrest and prosecution.

The statement quoted Disu as reiterating the ban on armed escorts, security aides and other unauthorised persons accompanying political figures or VIPs to polling units or collation centres on election day.

It also said state-established security outfits, quasi-security groups and private security organisations were barred from election security duties in line with the police force’s election-security directives.

“The Nigeria Police Force reassures residents, voters, and visitors in Osun State of adequate security and urges all eligible citizens to exercise their franchise peacefully and without fear,” the statement added.

The deployment comes against the backdrop of heightened security preparations for the August 15 election.

The Commissioner of Police deployed to oversee the election, Erale Etaifo, had said about 15,000 police operatives, including conventional policemen, specialists, the Police Mobile Force, dog section and medical personnel, would be deployed for the poll.

Etaifo also said the deployment would include the DIG and an Assistant Inspector-General of Police to supervise the operation.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, with 14 candidates, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, expected to contest.