Kogi, Niger, Benue, Taraba Listed As Flashpoints
The Nigeria Police Force has stepped up security operations ahead of the 2027 elections, with clearance operations underway in Kogi, Niger, Benue and Taraba states to stabilise areas identified as potential flashpoints.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Police Mobile Force, Alinyenu Idu, disclosed this while representing the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, at an interactive session on preparations for the 2027 elections.
Idu said the Force had activated its operational and tactical assets to tackle emerging security challenges and prevent electoral activities from degenerating into violence.
He said the Police was working with the military, paramilitary organisations and other security agencies to secure polling units, election materials, collation centres and other critical areas throughout the electoral process.
“What the Police is doing currently is to stabilise the various arenas of development and citizens’ activity,” he said.
According to him, the security architecture was being reviewed in response to what he described as “pockets of fear” generated by security challenges in different parts of the country.
He said clearance operations were currently focused on Kogi, Niger, Benue and Taraba states to enable security agencies to identify and contain crisis points ahead of the elections.
“Clearance operations being done, as pointed out, currently they are around Kogi, Niger, Benue, Taraba, to ensure that within time, we’ll be able to police the various crisis points and ensure there is social harmony for the election,” Idu said.
The police chief stressed that officers deployed for the elections must operate within the law, urging them to exercise legitimate authority rather than arbitrary power.
“In this, we must use legitimate authority, not power, to regulate the conduct of the election,” he said.
Idu assured Nigerians that security agencies were working to create an atmosphere where citizens could freely exercise their franchise without intimidation or violence.
He said efforts would continue before, during and after the elections to contain threats and protect voters and other participants in the electoral process.
“Assurance is given here that we hope and we believe that the upcoming election in January and beyond will be an election that citizens will celebrate with freedom that is attained through their democratic rights,” he said.
He added that security agencies were working together to tame violence, enable citizens to come out and vote, and protect the legitimacy of the electoral process.
The Police preparations form part of its broader 2027 election-security strategy, which includes intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, training, protection of voters and electoral officials, as well as adherence to political neutrality.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are fixed for February 6, 2027.
The Police has also been working with INEC on an election-security framework covering intelligence mapping, safe movement of electoral materials and personnel, inter-agency coordination and measures to address threats to the electoral process.
