Security has been beefed up at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lokoja, Kogi State as the commission prepares for the Saturday governorship election in the state.
Several personnel of security agencies including Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security, and others from different commands in the North Central and North West were seen at the INEC office located at Post Office Area, Lokoja.
Two armoured personnel carriers and seven patrol vehicles were stationed at the entrance gate and major road leading to the INEC office
Visitors to the state INEC headquarters were thoroughly frisked by the anti-riot policemen at the INEC entrance gate.
The road leading to the INEC office was manned by the men of the Counter Terrorism Unit and some of the security personnel were also seen with sniffer dogs in and around the premises of the office.
Efforts to reach the spokesman of the Kogi State Police Command to find out the issues leading to the water-tight security proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.
He neither picked nor returned his calls and did not respond to a text message sent to him.
But, a senior security source who spoke with our reporter under anonymity because he was not authorized to speak, said the arrangement was apparently to provide protection for electoral officers and materials.