Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, has appealed to community stakeholders for greater collaboration and understanding as the state prepares for the upcoming 2027 general elections and the festive season. Speaking during a familiarization visit to the Effurun Area Command in Uvwie Local Government Area on Tuesday, Erale emphasized the heavy burden placed on law enforcement officers tasked with ensuring a crime-free environment and maintaining order during these critical periods.
Erale, who was recently deployed to Delta State following the successful conduct of elections in Osun State, described the current "Ember Months" as particularly unusual due to their coincidence with the general elections. He noted that this overlap will result in significant movements across the country, particularly in states where voting is scheduled to occur simultaneously, thereby intensifying the workload for police personnel.
“This year’s Ember Months is an unusual one. Unusual in the sense that it coincided with the general elections and what that means is that there would be a lot of movements across the country, mostly in states where the elections are going to be held simultaneously,” Erale stated.The Police Commissioner highlighted that the influx of police officers attached to politicians in various states, alongside those deployed to maintain law and order, will create significant pressure on the force. He explained that these officers will be operating under heightened stress from the start of the election exercise on Saturday, January 16, 2027, through to the conclusion of the process as outlined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In light of these challenges, Erale urged community leaders, elders, women and youth groups, and the general public to demonstrate more understanding toward police officers working under pressure. He specifically called on stakeholders to be more vigilant and to share useful information that would assist the force in discharging its duties effectively during these critical moments.
During his visit, which began on Monday and covered the Delta South and Central Senatorial districts, Erale held closed-door interactive sessions with officers in the Area Commands he visited. In these sessions, he sternly warned against any form of misconduct by police personnel. The Effurun Area Commander, ACP Aliyu Shaba, reaffirmed the commitment of his team to diligently fight crime and ensure the protection of lives and property within their coverage area.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
