The Gombe State Police Command has announced a restriction of movement and closure of commercial activities in three local government areas ahead of Saturday’s bye-election for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency.
The restriction will take effect from 6am to 6pm on Saturday, September 19, 2026, in Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas.
The Command said the measure was part of comprehensive security arrangements put in place to ensure a peaceful, credible and violence-free election.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Umar Ahmed Chuso.
According to him, the Commissioner has ordered the deployment of adequate personnel and operational assets to INEC offices, polling units, collation centres and other strategic locations across the affected areas.
He said the deployment was being carried out in collaboration with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and other relevant security agencies.
The Command said persons providing essential services would be exempted from the movement restriction but warned that they must not use sirens, unregistered vehicles or vehicles with covered number plates.
It further stated that only statutory security agencies operating under ICCES would be authorised to provide security coverage during the election.
State-owned security outfits, quasi-security organisations, private security guards and vigilante groups were excluded from election security operations.
The Police warned residents against the circulation of fake news, political thuggery, possession or display of weapons and carrying of other incriminating items at polling units.
Parents and guardians were also urged to caution their wards against allowing themselves to be recruited as political thugs.
The Command warned that anyone found engaging in acts capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of the election would be arrested and prosecuted.
It urged residents to cooperate with security agencies and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through its emergency lines: 0815 056 7771 and 0903 643 5359.
