IGP Egbetokun deploys CP Abayomi Shogunle to head election duty in Anambra

The Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, has announced the deployment of CP Abayomi Shogunle, PhD, to head election duty in Anambra State during the November 8 governorship election.

This was conveyed to journalists in a press release by the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.

Ikenga, in the release, announced that Shogunle had already resumed as the Commissioner of Police to take charge of policing in the state for the forthcoming Anambra election.

Ikenga said: “Upon assumption of duty, CP Shogunle activated the IGP’s Enforcement Protocol for anti-electoral offences to ensure zero tolerance for ballot snatching, vote buying, political thuggery, and voter intimidation.

“The CP has also emplaced a central command framework to ensure real-time intelligence sharing, coordination, and rapid response, with a joint deployment of over 60,000 security personnel of agencies within the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), who will secure the 5,720 polling units with tactical reserves along inter-LGA and state boundaries, and also designated election collation centers.

“The CP has also stepped up the Electoral Offences Desk to monitor social media and online spaces towards identifying cyber-related crimes for prompt investigation and prosecution.”

He said CP Shogunle’s posting was in line with the policing operational strategy approved by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, which is aimed at enhancing strategic security planning towards ensuring a peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral process in the state.

Ikenga quoted the CP as reiterating the total ban on all vigilante groups such as Agunechemba and all other quasi-security groups in the state, as only the federal government security agencies are authorized to provide election security duties as provided by the laws of the federation.

He said VIP movements with armed escorts or security aides at polling or collation centers are strictly prohibited, as violators will face immediate apprehension, withdrawal of such escorts, and prosecution.

“Only designated INEC officials, accredited observers, and journalists are allowed to move freely between designated areas.”