Police Set For 2011 Elections

The Deputy-Inspector General of Police (DIG), C Department, Mr Udom Ekpoudom, has said that the police are working hard to ensure smooth general elections in 2011.

Addressing officers and men of the Rivers State Police Command on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Ekpoudom said officers and men were being trained for the elections.

“For the elections next year, people in the state and in fact, the whole country, have no cause to fear.  “Elections will come and go. We are prepared. We are trained and we have re-trained our men to make sure that we are able to handle the situation and campaigns during the elections,” he said.

The police chief said thugs and election riggers would not be allowed to have a field day in next year’s elections.

On welfare, Ekpoudom said a committee set up by the federal government to look into policemen welfare was ready and would soon come out with a new welfare package for the force.

He said that families of deceased policemen were free to stay in the barracks for six months or one year, depending on their circumstances.

He said such gesture to bereaved families was not forever as they would one day leave the barracks.

Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, said the non-implementation of the post amnesty programme had led to violent crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping and illegal oil bunkering.

He said officers and men of the command had risen to the task to fight such crimes in the state.

The commissioner thanked Governor Chibuike Amaechi for giving the command 130 patrol vehicles, 250 bullet proof vests and several walkie talkies.

Abba said Amaechi also assisted the command to install gadgets and systems which receive signals from strategic places and posts in the state.