Lagos, April 7 (IANS): The police in Nigeria have placed certain categories of politicians in central north Kogi state under surveillance, as part of efforts to ensure peaceful conduct of the April 11 elections to state assemblies, an officer said on Tuesday.

The move was in response to reports reaching the police that some politicians were planning to attack the electoral commission's staff on the day of the elections, Xinhua news agency cited Shola Adebayo, the state police spokesperson as telling reporters in Lokoja, the capital city.

He said the police had since closely monitored the activities of politicians with a view to curtailing their excesses before, during and after the elections.

Adebayo said the state police chief had already held a meeting with leaders of political parties on the development.

He said they were all advised against embarking on any action that might breach peace in the state.

According to him, the police chief has directed all police formations in the state to deal decisively with any act of violence, saying that any politician caught fomenting trouble would have himself to blame.