Hundreds of women in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Thursday, besiege the State’s police command, demanding the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Tolani Alausa.
The protesters mainly women, dressed in black attires also called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure a non-violent November 11, election in the state.
The women displayed placards with such as “IG- The Police must be neutral, Change CP Alausa for a violent free poll, We say No to CP Alausa, Give us new CP, we don’t want Tolani Alausa”.
One of the protesters, Madam Alice Daniels, said, “All we are asking for is a violence-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 candidate in peace? We want a non-violent exercise. The police should protect the people and allow us vote who we want. This shouldn’t be like other elections where people manipulate election with the assistance of the police.”
Mrs. Timitimi Ebipador, a human right activist, appealed to the state police command for a proper overseeing of the election process, noting that the best approach to a non-violent exercise is when the police are neutral.
She said “We are appealing to you for the conduct of a peaceful election, we want an exercise devoid of violence, you are responsible for the provision of security of our lives and that should be your duty, and not interfere in the election itself.”
“No blood of any Bayelsan is worth the blood of any politician. Do all it takes for a non-violent election, we beg you to protect us. I call for a peaceful election. We want our husbands, children and even brother safe after the exercise. We have experienced it in several occasion, in 2019, 2015 it was marred by violence and till this moment nobody was prosecuted and jailed for violence.”
Addressing the protesters, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, South-South, Sokari Pedro, assured them of a peaceful conduct of the election on Saturday, adding that all measures for a smooth conduct and professionalism by officers and men of the police force had been put in place.
He promised them that the election would be different from others marred by violence like 2015 and 2019. “We have heard your agitations, and we will ensure a peaceful conduct of the exercise before and after.
“I just addressed stakeholders of the various party and other state actors that the election will be peaceful.”
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