IGP Directs The Dissemination Of An Election Security Manual

A handbook titled “Revised Standard Operational Guidelines/Rules for Police Officers and Other Law Enforcement Agents on Election Security Duties ahead of the 2023 General Elections” was produced by the Nigeria Police Force, and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered that more than a million copies be distributed.

The 36-page handbook includes a page for the officer’s information, a foreword by the IGP, rules on general conduct, duty parade, briefing/debriefing, dress and accoutrement, managing political parties’ conventions/rallies, and crowd control, as well as other important electoral security guidelines. It also covers the use of force and lethal weapons, escorting and protecting election materials, the procedure of arrest, command and control, and other pertinent guidelines.

The strategic distribution covers the Force Headquarters, Zonal and State Police Commands, Formations, and trickles down to Units of the Force and Divisional Police Stations to ensure that every police officer will have a copy of the guidelines for ease of reference prior to the start of deployments, according to police spokesman CSP Muyiwa Adejobi.

According to their anticipated deployment for the elections, the IGP has also directed distribution to the Presidency, Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission, the Military, and all other security agencies working with the police to oversee election security.

“The Inspector-General of Police reiterates his expectation that the Police and other security agents involved in election security management will find the handbook to be a valuable operational companion and hold them accountable in the course of their electoral duties,” he says. “All hands must be on deck to actualise the mandate and commitment of the NPF to have free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.”