The Benue State Police Command has deployed 2,000 security personnel to beef up security at the Aper Aku stadium, venue of Monday’s Peoples Democratic Party governorship primaries in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Matthew Oku, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Makurdi that the number was the highest ever deployed by the command to secure any political event in the state.
Oku said the police anticipated tougher security challenges and had adopted the proactive measures to stem any violence and guarantee a hitch-free exercise.
The police spokesman disclosed that some of the personnel were drafted from their divisional offices and other police outposts.
According to him, the command’s Stop-and-Search team has been reinforced to beef up security within Makurdi township to avoid security breaches.
He commended the police for efficiently coordinating the security network in the state during the Sunday’s National Assembly primaries by the All Progressives Congress and the PDP.
Meanwhile, accreditation of delegates and the deployment of materials for the primaries were yet to begin while aspirants, desperate to clinch last moment support, were still holding clandestine meetings even as most had been told to withdraw their aspirations.
NAN learnt that other aspirants had been instructed by top party wigs to withdraw and allow a one-time speaker of the state assembly, Terhemen Tarzoor, to have a smooth run.