The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has cautioned Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara against making unfounded allegations regarding the police's role in the state’s upcoming local government elections. This follows Fubara’s accusation that the IGP was collaborating with his political opponents, vowing to hold the police accountable if there is a breakdown of law and order.
Fubara’s remarks came after his intervention in an incident at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office, where he alleged that police officers were attempting to remove election materials. The IGP, in response, emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had acted in compliance with a Federal High Court order prohibiting police involvement in the local elections. The court order was served to both the police and the Rivers State Government.
Egbetokun clarified through a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, that the police’s actions were lawful. According to the IGP, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State had received intelligence that policemen from the state’s Government House had been deployed to the RSIEC office to aid the conduct of the elections. As a result, the IGP authorized the withdrawal of these officers and replaced them with personnel from the Command’s Operations Department, whose sole duty was to provide overnight security at the electoral office.
The statement also highlighted previous security breaches in Rivers State due to political tensions and court rulings, noting that the police’s proactive response was aimed at preventing further unrest. Egbetokun expressed surprise at the governor’s actions, accusing him of wrongly berating the police, who were performing their duties lawfully. He condemned Fubara’s outburst, describing the governor’s accusations as baseless and cautioning against the use of inflammatory language that could incite violence.
The IGP reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to maintaining peace and security, stressing that the force would not tolerate threats to shed blood or burn down the state over a local election. To ensure public safety, Egbetokun has ordered additional police deployments throughout Rivers State. The public has been advised to remain calm and go about their daily activities without fear of disruption.
