In light of the approaching general elections, the Cross River Police Command has committed to take action against political thuggery in the State.
Sule Balarabe, the state's commissioner of police, made this statement on Thursday in Calabar during a procession of suspects detained around the state in January.
He urged political figures to eschew politics of resentment and adopt a sportsmanlike attitude.
“Parents, guardians and leaders wielding various levels of authority are once again enjoined to persuade or warn their children, wards, and their followers against being used as robots or detractors in the election process.
“The reason for the warning is because there will be awful consequences and corresponding sanctions as prescribed by the laws of the land,” he warned.
Balarabe called on political parties, their candidates, groups and individuals to respect the rule of law and work towards the maintenance of law and order in the state.
While noting that the command would create a level playing field for all the political parties, the commissioner said the Police would also increase visibility across the state for the purpose of the poll.
“Consequently, there will be an increase in the state of visibility policing, improved inter-agency partnership and intelligence sharing, confidence building patrols and heightened surveillance activities on strategic roads at flash points and stop and search where the need arises,” he said.
The police commissioner said that 2022 presented sets of security challenges that threatened the security order and national cohesion of the state.
He listed some of the challenges to include, including flashes of violent campaigns by “unpatriotic political bigots,” and the defacing of campaign posters/billboards.
Others he said are attacks and counter-attacks on political opponents, social media propaganda from some quarters, kidnapping, armed robbery and other sundry criminality. (NAN)