Abuja- ASP Chris Owolabi of the Police Command in Oyo State has said that the security agencies have a responsibility to ensure security of lives and property during the forthcoming general elections.
Owolabi spoke in a lecture at the ongoing three-day training workshop on elections security in Abuja on Wednesday.
The workshop was organised for security personnel by the Electoral Institute of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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He stressed the need for security agencies to conduct a post-mortem of the 2011 general elections to prevent a recurrence of crisis in the last polls.
Owolabi advised security agencies on the identification, surveillance and monitoring of all known subversive elements, terrorist groups and dissident elements, among others.
`”One of the vocal duties of security agencies is to ensure that key and vulnerable points are effectively monitored and protected to forestall any threat of arson, damage or destruction by hoodlums,” he said.
“As security agencies being paid with taxpayers’ money, it is our duty to ensure that Nigerians carry out their civic responsibilities in a secure environment.
“Undoubtedly, the security of the elections is the business of every citizen and all stakeholders.
`”But our constitutional and statutory duties as personnel of security agencies have put enormous responsibilities on our shoulders to provide the enabling environment for the conduct of free and fair elections,’’ he said.
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The assistant commissioner of police called for synergy, accountability and mutual respect among security personnel in the course of preparing or performing their duties during the 2015 general elections.
Owolabi noted that the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security established with the help of INEC after the 2011 general
elections now had positive impacts on conduct of elections in the country. (NAN)
