Bayelsa guber poll: Demonstrators occupy police headquarters and call for CP to be removed

Bayelsa guber poll: Demonstrators occupy police headquarters and call for CP to be removed

On Thursday, hundreds of women besieged the headquarters of the Bayelsa State Police Command, demanding the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, CP, Tolani Alausa.

The protesters, mostly dressed in black attire, also called on President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure a peaceful election in the state.

The women displayed placards with inscriptions such as ‘IG: The Police must be neutral’, ‘Change CP Alausa for a violence-free poll’, ‘We say no to CP Alausa’, and ‘Give us a new CP; we don’t want Tolani Alausa’.

One of the protesters, Madam Alice Daniels, said, “All we are asking for is a violent, free election in the state. Is that a big thing to ask from those who are supposed to be responsible for protecting us? Why can’t the police be neutral in this election?

“Can’t we just vote for our preferred candidates in peace? We want a non-violent exercise. The police should protect the people and allow us to vote for who we want. This shouldn’t be like other elections where people manipulate the election with the assistance of the police.”

Addressing the protesters, the DIG, South South, Sokari Pedro, assured them of a peaceful conduct of the election on Saturday.

He said, “We have heard your agitations, and we will ensure a peaceful conduct of the exercise before and after.

“I just informed stakeholders of the various parties and other state actors that the election will be peaceful.

“2023 is not 2019 or 2015; we have put all measures together for a peaceful process.”