The military has restated its commitment to collaborate with the police and other security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shuaib, made the pledge yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police in Borno, Abdu Umar, in Maiduguri.
He said that closer collaboration between the military, police and other security agencies would facilitate maximum security in the pre, during and post-election periods in the country.
The GOC said the visit would avail him opportunity to rob minds about the preparedness of the police to address security challenges during the elections.
He said: “The police is the lead agency but due to the peculiar nature of Northeast, it requires that the military in the sit of authority are the once who provided the lead in various operations.
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“Elections violence can either occur prior to the conduct of the elections, during or post elections, and both agencies will be involved in addressing these issues.
“As the campaign already started, the joint security normally conduct operations to make sure that the metropolis is safe.
“We will like to ensure and reinforce all our forces including the hybrid forces marge together so that we have a secured environment in Maiduguri metropolis.”
Abdu said the police would continue to collaborate with the military to protect lives and property in the state.
He said his Command had intensified patrols in collaboration with hybrid forces to combat crimes in Maiduguri metropolis.
The Commissioner reiterated readiness of the police to provide security to facilitate conduct of free, fair, credible and peaceful election.