The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has succumbed to pressure by agreeing to redeploy the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had mounted pressure on the IGP to redeploy Barde after its President, Joe Ajaero was assaulted in Imo.
Egbetokun, in an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, said he was aware of the allegations against Barde.
He said before the election, the commissioner of police in Imo would be redeployed, but said this was not to say that he has been found guilty.
The IGP said the move was for neutrality sake.
“We are aware that there are allegations against the Commissioner of Police in Imo. Before the elections, we’re changing the CP.
“This is not to say the CP has been found guilty. But for neutrality sake, we are changing the Commissioner of Police in Imo State,” he said.
However, Egbetokun said the police were ready for the elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States.
“We are ready for this election, we have been able to deploy adequately for this election. In Bayelsa, we will be covering 2,224 polling units and we have enough men and resources to cover those polling units,” he said.
According to him, the police had also made adequate arrangements for both Imo and Kogi, saying “We have done our threat assessments, and we already know how to carry out our deployments which we have already done.
“I want to assure you that the police and other security agencies are ready for this election and we are sure it is going to be hitch-free.”
credit: PM News
