DIG Frank Mba, in charge of the police contingent for the Edo State Governorship Election, says the State Police Command has raided black spots ahead of the September 21 Governorship Election.
Mba said this at a news briefing on Wednesday in Benin, shortly after addressing the police personnel deployed for the poll.
He said the raid was carried out by the command with the support of visiting officers and that some miscreants were being detained.
According to him, the exercise became necessary to rid the state of miscreants and ensure a hitchfree election.
Mba said the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had deployed adequately for the election, adding that they would work with other sister security agencies to provide security during the election.
“Like the IGP has already briefed Nigerians, the police will be deploying adequately for the Edo election.
“What we have done today is to hold a meeting with the strategic commanders, DPOs, Area Commanders, Deputy Commissioners of Police and Commissioner of Police, who are saddled with the task of providing leadership and supervision at the various levels.
“Our task is to provide a peaceful atmosphere for the conduct of a free, fair and credible election.
“We are working with sister agencies as we cannot work in isolation.
“The state shares border with Kogi, Delta, Ondo and Anambra so the security will be adequately done.
“The Army will man these boarder areas that are far away while the Navy will also provide security on the waterways.
“Other security organisations will also work with us during the election”, the police chief said.
He also said the police had provided a dedicated phone line – 07025000383 for the public to report any breach of the peace.
“This phone number will be with me and if for operational reasons it is not with me, it will be with my personal assistant.
“The state command as supported by visiting officers have been conducting very specialised operations.
“They have been conducting raids at known criminal hideouts.
“Most of the raids they have are target-oriented, intelligence-driven and they are targeted at isolating criminal elements in the state while some have been detained.
“The raid continues as we are ready to provide adequate security during this election”, Mba said.

A socio-ethnic movement in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People USA (MOSOP-USA), has chastised many states for depending sorely on federal allocation for survival.
The movement, therefore, recommended the adoption of a revenue distribution formula among the three tiers of government that will encourage production and discourage a dependent sharing mentality.
The recommendation was contained in a memorandum signed by the President of MOSOP-USA, DineBari Augustine Kpuinem, and submitted to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, recently.
According to Kpuinem, “it is absurd that most states only depend on the derivation coming from the Federal Government without putting in place internal generation of revenue mechanism”.
He noted that the regression being experienced in the country is as a result of misappropriation of revenue allocation derived majorly from oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
MOSOP-USA called for the amendment of Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution that deals with derivation fund to include a clause that will ensure accountable application of the fund.
The memorandum also urged the states that receive derivation fund to set up independent agencies run by men of integrity for proper application of the fund for the development of the States.
According to the movement, “The fund should be paid to these entities and not included in the state government budget, and subjected to the governance structure similar to an amended fashion of the Host Community Development Trust in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).”
MUSSOP-USA further recommended full autonomy for local governments in the country, saying the third tier of government should be independent of the State.
“Local government councils should be given full financial autonomy to enhance their performance and to maximise productivity without prejudice to their creation and oversight by the state governments. This requires the abolition of the State Joint Local Government Account”, the group stated.

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has resumed his official duties after a two weeks vacation.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Doubara Atasi, quoted him as thanking God for His mercies and grace upon his life and family for a safe and successful vacation.
The statement added that Senator Ewhrudjakpo expressed gratitude to the State Governor, Senstor Douye Diri, for the privilege and permission granted him to proceed on the vacation.
He also thanked all his staff, Bayelsans and Nigerians alike for their support, prayers and best wishes while he was away.
The state’s number two man disclosed that the vacation, which also afforded him the opportunity to undergo his routine medical checks, gave him almost a clean bill of health, except the few remaining symptoms of the ear infection he had prior to the November 2023 elections.
The Deputy Governor, however, assured that he is “as fit as the fiddle and ready for work”.
Ewhrudjakpo also felicitated with the Muslim Ummah on the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet Mohammed, wishing them happy Eid-el-Maulud celebrations.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa