Nigeria Police Force Distributes a Million Copies of Election Security Handbook Ahead of 2023 General Elections

The Nigeria Police Force has announced that a comprehensive handbook on “Revised Standard Operational Guidelines/Rules for Police Officers and Other Law Enforcement Agents on Election Security Duties” will be distributed ahead of the 2023 General Elections.

The handbook, which Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba ordered, contains detailed information on general conduct, duty parade, briefing and debriefing, dress and accoutrement, managing political parties’ conventions and rallies, crowd control, and the use of force and lethal weapons.

The handbook, which is 36 pages long, includes a page for the details of the officer to whom it is issued, a foreword by the IGP, and guidelines on various aspects of election security. The guidelines cover topics such as escorting and protecting election materials, the procedure of arrest, command and control, and other salient electoral security rules. The handbook has been designed to act as a reference guide for police officers and other law enforcement agents during the election period.

The strategic distribution of the handbook covers the Force Headquarters, Zonal and State Police Commands, and Formations. It 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 before the commencement of deployments. Similarly, the IGP has ordered distribution to the Presidency, Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission, the Military, and all other security agencies engaged alongside the Police in election security management based on their expected deployment for the elections.

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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 which could act as a standard in holding them accountable in the line of their electoral duties. The Nigeria Police Force is committed to ensuring free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria, and all hands must be on deck to actualize this mandate and commitment. The handbook is expected to play a critical role in ensuring that the police and other law enforcement agencies are well-prepared and equipped to handle any security challenges that may arise during the election period.

In conclusion, the Nigeria Police Force has taken a significant step in the right direction by distributing this handbook ahead of the 2023 General Elections. The guidelines and rules outlined in the handbook will serve as a valuable resource for officers and help to ensure that the police and other security agencies are able to conduct their duties in a professional and efficient manner. The IGP’s expectation that the handbook will act as a standard for holding officers accountable in their electoral duties is a positive sign that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to ensuring free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

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