The police on Saturday warned citizens and residents of Kwara state against defacement of campaign posters and the destruction of campaign billboards threatening to arrest and prosecute anyone who gets involved in such a destructive behaviour.
Spokesman for Kwara state police command, Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, a Superintendent of Police, in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com disclosed that the state police chief , Mr Paul Odama had since directed Divisional police officers in the state to ensure that they put a stop to such a destructive behaviour in their respective coverage areas while stating his readiness to sanction DPOs considered guilty of dereliction of duty.
‘The Commissioner of Police, Kwara state, CP Paul Odama psc (+) has frowned at the reports that have to do with the bare-faced disobedience to his admonition to political gladiators during his parley with leaders of political parties in the state a few weeks ago ,to warm their supporters against destruction and defacement of campaign posters and billboards belonging to opposing political parties .
Destruction of Banners and Billboards, apart from being against Electoral law, is also a crime against the freedom of expression as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, it is also morally unjustifiable.
Consequently, any person or group of people found to have been involved in the destruction or defacement of campaign posters and billboards belonging to any political party would be arrested and prosecuted.
The CP has therefore advised parents and guardians to warn their children and wards against becoming tools in the hands of some mischievous politicians who are hell- bent on jeopardizing the level- playing field the command has promised and working hard to emplace in Kwara State, so as to ultimately achieve the goal of a peaceful, free and credible elections in 2023.
The Commissioner of Police in furtherance of his determination to end the negative acts of billboard destruction, has directed all the Divisional Police officers in the state to intensify patrols within their Areas of Responsibilities ( AORs) to ensure that no billboard or campaign poster of any political party is defaced or destroyed. The DPO are warned to be prepared to face the consequences of failure to comply with this directive’ the statement said- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you