Police, not military, to be in charge of security at polling units – INEC boss

INEC boss Mahmood Yakubu has said military operatives have no business hanging around polling units to provide security for electorates.

Yakubu said the police would be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the election goes peacefully.

This is just as Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai gave an assurance that the military would follow President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to ruthlessly deal with ballot box snatchers and election riggers to the letter.

Yakubu said the military’s intervention would only be required in situations that are beyond the police.

“The military will not be involved in the polling units, they will not be involved in the immediate inner parts,” the INEC boss said during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

See Also

Will Dangote Refinery Crash The Price of Petrol? Here’s What You Should Know

“But depending on the invitation they receive from the police, they may play a role assigned them by the lead agency in election security which is the Nigerian police.

“So, INEC works with the police as the lead security agency but based on the assessment of threat and the assistance the police require, they can also call on other agencies including the military.”