Inspector General of Police Usman Baba says the police was working to sustain the improvements recorded in the conduct of security personnel at the Osun, Ekiti and Anambra off-cycle polls ahead of the 2023 general election.

Mr Baba, represented by DCP Basil Idegwu, the head of Police Federal Operation, said this at a security policy dialogue entitled “2022 General Election: Insecurity as a threat to constitutional succession”, organised by Cleen Foundation in partnership with Ford Foundation on Wednesday in Abuja.

“We have received great commendation both from international observers and local observers on the conduct and role of security agencies at the Ekiti and Osun election,” Mr Baba said. “This shows the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure a credible election come 2023.”

He reassured that the police will work with sister security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2023 general election.

“However, it is imperative to note that in matters of security, every citizen is a stakeholder, and that is why this initiative organised to dialogue is highly commended because all hands must be on deck to ensure that the current insecurity is fought to stand still in the country,” he said.

Mr Baba said using the successes recorded in Edo, Ondo and Anambra elections, the police would ensure the peaceful conduct of the 2023 poll.

He said the police had implemented a series of training for its officers and men to strengthen the security response mechanism,

Gad Peter, Cleen Foundation executive director, urged the police and other security agencies to develop a comprehensive public safety and security roadmap toward the general election.

Mr Peter stated that the dialogue was necessitated by the growth in scale, spread and sophistication of violent threats in the country.

“Security threats such as terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, militancy, separatist agitation, farmer-herdsmen clashes, cultism, and proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW),” the CLEEN boss explained. “As well as threatening comments from some non-state armed groups, among others, have increased tension in the country and remain one of the greatest challenges in the build-up to the 2023 general elections if unaddressed.”

(NAN)