Inspector General of Police, Mr Sunday Ehindero, has said the Federal Government has ordered 40,000 pieces of AK-47 rifles with 20,000,000 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition among others, to combat violence and ensure free and fair election.
Ehindero said this in a paper read on his behalf by Mr Israel Ajao, who represented him at the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Seminar, titled: 2007 Elections: The Security Challenges and Rule of Law.
Ehindero said government has also ordered 30,000 pieces of K2 rifles with 10,000,000 rounds of 5.56x45mm ammunition, and 10,000 pieces of Beretta Pistol with 2,000,000 rounds of .9mm ammunition.
He said the delivery of these arms and ammunition would be soon, adding that purchase of more bullet proof vests, helmets, arms and ammunition will enhance the capability of the Force to deal effectively with cases of insecurity in any part of the country during the electioneering period.
Ehindero said it would also assist to enhance the quality of weapon training of its personnel, adding however, that there is the need to make available sufficient fund well ahead of time for the procurement and deployment of necessary logistics for police operational duties.
He also said �there must be freedom of speech so that voters can be told what the issues are and what are the choices that face them.
Political parties must be capable of getting messages across and winning the interest of the electorate, the media must be able to channel positions and policies and clarify issues, voters must understand their duties and responsibilities, and the advantages to them of an accountable, democratic system, observers must be able to organise freely,�
Mar72007