Ahead of the commencement of the general elections next month, the Lagos Police Commissioner (CP) Abiodun Alabi has warned politicians that the command would not condone any acts of violence
He specifically warned that those planning to foment trouble before, during or after the elections would meet stiff resistance and be dealt with decisively.
The CP gave the warning yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting on election security held at the POWA Hall, Ikeja, Lagos. He used the opportunity to warn political thugs, cultists and other hoodlums usually recruited by desperate politicians to disrupt elections; to steer clear of polling areas for their own good.
Alabi said: “I want to advise political leaders here to go back home and warn their supporters that the police are fully ready to deal with anyone caught fomenting trouble in the state. I also want to warn that anybody who has no business at the pooling units should remain indoors or risk the wrath of the police.
“I equally want to warn politicians to play by the rules of the game as anybody who is caught on the contrary no matter how highly placed, will be visited by the law. Parents should equally warn their children to be law-abiding because we won’t listen to anybody when we arrest any troublemaker.
“Go back and tell your men, advise them to play the game according to the rules because we are not going to spare anybody when they are caught.”
The CP reiterated the commitment of the police to securing the electoral process, assuring residents that no political party supporters would be intimidated under his watch.
On activities of cultists, he said the command was battling it, adding that they would not be allowed in the state. He added: “I am impressed with the way the political parties conducted themselves here. I also want you to do so during the election and after. We are not going to allow anyone to compromise the exercise at the polling units.”