The Police Command in Anambra has concluded a 2-day sensitisation workshop for officers and men in the state to prepare them for effective and professional security operations during and after the Nov. 8 governorship election.
No fewer than 400 officers across ranks took part in the training held in Awka on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The workshop was in collaboration with GTA Consultants with the theme “Securing Democracy: Empowering Police for Credible Elections in Anambra.
Handling over the certificates of participation to the Officers, High Chief Johnson Ateghie, Lead Consultant at GTA Consultants said the knowledge from the 2-day workshop would enable the officers to discharge their election duties with utmost professionalism.
Ateghie said IGP Kayode Egbetokun who approved the programme wished to ensure that the Police were fair and responsible to stakeholders before, during and after the election.
“This election security management training would enable personnel to understand their role in handling situations without unnecessary for or abuse of human rights,” he said
Earlier CP Abayomi Shogunle, Commissioner of Police in charge of election duty in his message said the training and reorientation was to enhance their election security management, professionalism during the election and after.
He urged officers deployed for election duty in Anambra the electoral law, rules of engagement, respect human rights and conform zero-tolerance of the command to election-related violence and misconduct.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to providing a secured, peaceful, and credible electoral environment for all voters, candidates, media, observers and stakeholders.
“All officers should remain professional at all times, avoid partisan alignment, and ensure that they protect the integrity of the ballot and the confidence of the electorate.
“We assure the good people of Anambra State that adequate operational deployments are in place, and citizens are encouraged to come out and exercise their voting rights without fear or intimidation,” he said.
Professionals, including Prof. Aniekan Brown, a criminologist, delivered lectures at the event.
