The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered the restriction of movement in areas affected by the forthcoming by-elections scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025.
The directive, announced in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, aims to guarantee a safe and conducive environment for the polls across 13 states: Anambra, Kano, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Ogun, Zamfara, and Niger.
According to the statement, vehicular movement — including travel by road, waterways, and other means — will be prohibited from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day within the affected local government areas. Exceptions will be made for those on essential duties, such as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accredited journalists, election observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters.
Egbetokun also directed the deployment of senior officers of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to support state commands in supervising election security. Tactical units, including the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, and Force Intelligence Department, have also been mobilised.
Reiterating earlier directives, the IGP banned security aides and escorts from accompanying VIPs and politicians to polling units and collation centres. State-owned security outfits, quasi-security units, and private guards are also barred from participating in election security management.
The police chief urged officers deployed for the exercise to strictly adhere to the Nigeria Police Force’s election operational protocols. He also appealed to citizens to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assuring that all necessary measures have been put in place to safeguard voters’ rights.
