Police meet with political parties in Sokoto over campaigns

The Sokoto State Police Command held meetings with chairmen of political parties and elected local government chairmen to address security concerns ahead of political campaigns and the upcoming elections in the state. These individual sessions took place at the Command headquarters on Wednesday, uniting Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), senior police officers, and political party representatives.

Commissioner of Police Hayatu Shaffa explained that these engagements aimed to strengthen cooperation between security agencies, political actors, and local government authorities to ensure a peaceful election process. At a separate meeting with political parties, Shaffa cautioned politicians against making statements or engaging in activities that could escalate the security situation in the state.

He urged political parties to conduct their campaigns peacefully, adhere to electoral rules, and avoid actions that might create tension or endanger public safety. Shaffa also requested the parties to collaborate with the police by sharing timely information on potential threats and ensuring their supporters did not engage in violence, intimidation, or other acts that could disrupt the elections.

Shaffa emphasized that the police would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to maintain a secure environment for political activities, stressing that all stakeholders shared responsibility for peaceful elections. The Commissioner urged local government chairmen to support security agencies by engaging with their communities, gathering intelligence, and identifying criminal elements.

Addressing local government chairmen during the commencement of a Nationwide Local Government Security Workshop organized by the police, Shaffa described the event as timely, considering the security challenges confronting some parts of the state.

The CP emphasized the need for local government chairmen to work with their communities to identify individuals supporting criminal activities, warning that the police alone cannot address these issues. The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Sokoto State assured the police of its full support in their efforts to restore peace and security across local government areas.

They promised to cooperate and provide necessary assistance to security agencies to enable them to perform their duties effectively. Political party chairmen and their local government counterparts also pledged to abide by the rules and regulations governing political campaigns and elections, vowing to support efforts aimed at maintaining peace before, during, and after the elections.