IGP Deploys 42,000 Officers for Anambra Governorship Election to Ensure Security

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the deployment of 42,000 officers.
The deployment is aimed to maintain peace and order in Anambra Governorship Election.
The IGP said pre-election security operations will begin on November 1 to neutralize threats.
Only official security agencies like Police, DSS, NSCDC, and the military will participate in the election.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, urged politicians and parties to shun violence.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has approved a massive deployment of 42,000 police officers across Anambra State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. The measure, according to the police chief, aims to guarantee a peaceful, credible, and well-coordinated election.

Egbetokun made this known during the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), held at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. Represented by the Commissioner of Police for the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, the IGP said the deployment would cover all stages of the electoral process.

He explained that pre-election operations would commence on November 1, with tactical units deployed to conduct clearance exercises aimed at neutralizing potential threats and arresting individuals planning to disrupt the process.

Egbetokun emphasized that only security agencies officially represented in the ICCES, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the military would be allowed to provide election security.

“No vigilante group will be permitted to play any role in the election,” he said, warning against unauthorized security participation.

The police chief added that there would be restrictions on movement on Election Day to ensure smooth coordination, while all entry and exit points into the state would be strictly monitored. “We are determined to deliver a peaceful and credible election,” he assured.

Also speaking, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, cautioned political actors against inciting violence or encouraging unrest. Represented by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, Ribadu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for the November 8, 2025, election.

“We are engaging with political leaders and community stakeholders to send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated,” he said.

Ribadu also disclosed that the Office of the NSA is fully implementing President Bola Tinubu’s directive on strengthening election security through enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering, and the strategic mobilization of security personnel across the state.

He stressed that the government would not allow any “desperate politicians or destructive elements” to undermine the credibility of the Anambra election, promising that security agencies are fully prepared to respond to any threat to peace.