DCP Frank Mba, FPRO
The task of providing security for voters and electoral officials proved to be tougher in Kogi than Bayelsa, the police have said.
While governorship election held in both states, there was a rerun election in Kogi west senatorial district, and there were reports of financial inducement of voters and violence in the two states.
However, speaking when he featured on Channels Television on Saturday evening, Frank Mba, force public relations officer, said Kogi recorded a higher level of violence, blaming politicians for the rancour. He said that the police did their best.
Said Mba: “I admit that there have been challenges in Kogi. The situation in Kogi has been challenging, more challenging than Bayelsa. When you are policing an environment where politicians play very desperate games and want to win at all cost, you will be swimming against the tides”.
Mba said 22 persons had been arrested in Kogi while ammunition had been recovered, adding that in the build-up to the elections, the force took the initiative of mopping up some of the illicit weapons but that it was impossible to get rid of all the weapons, particularly in areas where elections took place.
Said he: “As hard as we might have tried I do not believe that we will be able to mop up every single illicit weapon within those areas where elections are currently taking place”.
