The police have placed their men on red alert across the states of the country as security experts and residents urge proactive measures to forestall break down of law and order on Election Day, report Kunle Akinrinade; Precious Igbonwenlundu, Paul Upkabio; Nwanosike Onu, Awka; Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba; Nicholas Kalu, Calabar; Rosemary Nwisi and Deborah Sunday, Port Harcourt; Okodili Ndidi, Owerri; Chris Oji, Enugu; Duku JOEL, Maiduguri/Damaturu; Sani Muh’d Sani, Gusau; Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin and Sunny Nwankwo, Aba.
In what appears like a war declared against troublemakers, police are battle ready to contain any act of violence or breakdown of law and order as Nigerians elect governors and state lawmakers across the country today. This followed the deployment of senior police officers across the six-geo-political zones by the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
Already, seven Deputy Inspectors-General of Police have been deployed in the six geo-political zones across the country to supervise election security. No fewer than 10 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police have also been dispatched to the police zonal commands while 277 Commissioners of Police are to complement the efforts of the CPs in the 36 states command and the Federal Capital Territory.
Each of the state police commands now has additional three police commissioners posted to the three senatorial districts in their respective states of assignment.
Force spokesman, Mr Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said the deployment was in sync with the security management base for the command CPs.
He added that based on security assessment earlier carried out by the Force, the police said some local government areas in Plateau, Benue, Imo and Taraba states, would have one Commissioner of Police deployed in the councils to coordinate security.
In most states of the country, Police Commissioners have placed their men on red alert to prevent troublemakers, including ballot box snatchers, from disrupting the exercise.
In Anambra State, the state police command said it has mapped out strategies to address major threats during the election through robust inter-agency cooperation, visibility patrol. Such threats, according to the command, include thuggery and cultism.
Briefing reporters in Awka on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mustapha Ladodo, said other means would be through intelligence gathering and constant raids on criminal hideouts in order to nip in the bud all forms of threat to the upcoming elections in the state.
The CP, who noted that there were lapses during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, promised that such situation would not repeat itself. He warned ballot box snatchers, their masters, agents and mischief makers to desist from such plans or have themselves to blame.
Lagos police command step up security measures
At a press briefing on Wednesday at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Zubairu Muazu, said the command had doubled security, especially in areas identified as flash points.
He also said that armed security operatives would be stationed at closest locations to polling units in order to forestall disruption of voting process as was witnessed during the presidential elections in Okota and other areas.
He denied reports that there was lack of synergy among security agencies and that gave rise to attacks by miscreants, noting that all the services worked in collaboration and were still doing so.
Already, Muazu said, plans have been concluded for the marine police unit and operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) to cover all riverine communities in the state.
Assuring voters of their security on election day, Muazu urged them to come out and vote candidates of their choice, noting that miscreants who disrupted elections were being prosecuted.
He said: “It is also insinuated that certain ethnic nationalities are deliberately denied or prevented from voting for political reasons or to enhance the fortunes of a particular political party.
“Let me categorically state here that those attacks were planned and orchestrated by miscreants, most of whom have been apprehended and are facing prosecution.
“Let me re-emphasise that Lagos State is peaceful and Lagosians are peace loving. There is no ethnic group or community under threat in any part of the state.
“We have reviewed and redoubled our strategies to ensure a peaceful conduct of the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections come March 9.
“Our surveillance and patrols are intensified, especially in identified flash points.
“I am using this medium to call on Lagosians to go about their lawful businesses and to continue to support the police by being vigilant and report any suspicious movement or persons through our emergency numbers so that we can serve them better.
“I use this medium to warn people who sit in their homes, offices and generate fake news which they circulate on social media deliberately to fan the ember of hate among the various peace loving entities in Lagos State. They should desist from this act or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
“I want to reassure the good people of Lagos State that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, are working round the clock to ensure their safety and security. They should come out en masse to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice as their security is fully guaranteed.”
Muazu denied claims that the alleged ballot box snatcher in Okota, Demola, escaped from the hospital, insisting that the suspect and nine others held for electoral offences in that axis have been sent to Abuja as directed by the acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu.
“It is untrue that Demola fled from the hospital. While he was being treated, he was granted administrative bail based on doctor’s recommendation that he was not fit enough to stand trial. But he has since returned to us and has been transferred to Abuja with others arrested for electoral offences that day. They are being centrally prosecuted,” said Muazu.
Ogun
In Ogun State, police authorities disclosed that all Special Forces have been put on red alert.
The command said it had gone all out to ensure a rancour-free election exercise and would decisively deal with anyone or group that is out to cause trouble or undermine the election process.
Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), in a statement released on Wednesday evening, said the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Anti-kidnapping/cultism unit, State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), all Area Commands and divisions were on red alert to deal with criminally minded people.
He said: “The command wishes to state unequivocally that any act of thuggery, violence or hooliganism will not be tolerated from anybody before, during and after the election, no matter how highly placed the person is.
“All law abiding citizens are enjoined to go out and cast their votes on election day without fear of any form of harassment or intimidation. “Three additional Commissioners of Police have been deployed to the state to supervise elections in each of the three senatorial districts.
“They are CP Agunbiade Lasore for Ogun West 08034506364, Ogun Central will have CP Fimihan Adeoye 08033415589 and Ogun East CP Gbenga Adeyanju 08037917182. AIG Karima Hassan (08034506364) will be the overall commander.”
However, in spite of the police readiness to battle electoral offenders and secure lives and property during today’s exercise, security experts have urged police authorities to match their words with action by providing adequate personnel, equipment as well as strategic measures to combat electoral crime in order to engender a free and fair election.
Enugu
The heads of various security agencies in Enugu had a meeting at the state’s INEC headquarters on Thursday. The meeting involved the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Emeka Ononamadu.
Although the details of the meeting was not made available to the media, it might had been called to review the security situation in the state as it concerns the election.
However, there is huge security build-up in Enugu metropolis, especially on Enugu-Port-Harcourt Road, Enugu-Abakaliki Road and Enugu-Onitsha Road, to ensure strict compliance with the restriction of movement order.
Security personnel had mounted various roadblocks at major junctions in the metropolis.
The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Balarabe Suleiman, said he was satisfied with the security arrangement in place so far.
Suleiman, who spoke with newsmen at the state office of INEC in Enugu, said he had moved round and that the security situation and planning had been intact.
Borno/Yobe
Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Sunmuno Abdulmiliki, and his Borno counterpart, Mr. Damiam Chukwu, have assured of the safety of voters during today’s polls.
“We have enough men on ground to police the election and ensure that voters are not intimidated in carrying out their civic duties. I am confident that the elections will be peaceful,” CP Sunmuno said.
In his remarks, Chukwu said deployments are strategically done in collaboration with other sister security agencies to ensure safety of voters across Borno State.
Meanwhile, the spirit of voters in the two Kanem Borno states looks very high despite security challenges as voters have expressed their desires to come out in large numbers to cast their votes.
However, residents of Borno and Yobe are worried about the recent security situation in the state and have called on security agencies to beef up security around voting areas.
Not a few residents have travelled to their local government areas to exercise their franchise in the polls ahead.
“Everyone seems ready to participate in the Saturday elections. Most people are travelling back to their local government areas today (Thursday) in order to have the chance to vote during the elections. Indigenes of Bama, Monguno and Gamboru Ngala are already on their way because roads are expected to be closed by tomorrow (Friday).
“Our major concern, however, is the uncertain security of the roads as people travel to cast their votes,” said one of the council chairmen in Borno, who craved anonymity.
Speaking on the safety of voters travelling outside Yobe State, a security source said: “The last elections were violence- free for those that travelled out, and that served as a morale booster for them towards today’s elections.
“Although there might be a little apprehension, note that security operatives have also stepped up their game in order to ensure safety of lives and property during this electioneering period.”
A huge number of voters from Gujbs Local Government Area were relocated to Damaturu for security challenges while some parts of Gulani were also adjusted for voters’ convenience so they are not disenfranchised.
It will be recalled that Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State did not go to his village, Bukarti, to cast his vote, following insurgents’ attack on Giedam, a transit community to his village.
Zamfara
Security challenges will not affect elections in Zamfara State, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Celestine Okoye, has said.
Okoye disclosed that over 4000 security personnel would be on ground to ensure peaceful conduct of elections. According to him, additional police personnel from Force Headquarters and some police colleges and other formations will be posted to Zamfara to also assist.
He explained that from the look of things, it is those creating the problems that went to vote during the last election in Zamfara. He further warned youths anywhere in the country to desist from killing particular tribes.
“These killings usually come from cattle rustling. And when you kill and rustle the cattle of the Fulani, they have a tradition for reprisal,” he said.
He advised the electorate to report anybody seen with weapons near the polling centres. Okoye assured that today’s elections will be conducted, noting that electoral materials had been in place since Wednesday.
Kwara
Kwara residents have expressed mixed expectations from today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state. Some were optimistic that the elections would not only be peaceful but free, fair and transparent, just like those of February 23 elections.
A resident, Funsho Enoch, said the elections would be hitch-free, urging security agents to increase their surveillance on criminal hideouts.
“Security personnel in the last elections performed excellently well. I urge them not to rest on their oars to sustain that tempo. I am confident that the whole process will be peaceful devoid of any crisis,” he said.
A retail shop owner who simply gave her name as Iya Fatia shared the same view. She however enjoined politicians to be magnanimous in victory while losers should concede defeat sportingly.
The Coalition of Civil Society for Peaceful Election in the state urged Kwarans to troop out on election day to vote for the candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation and harassment.
Team Leader of the coalition, Musa Aliyu, said: “I want to state that the content of the peace pact signed weeks back is binding on all political actors in the state. Any politician found violating the pact should be made to face the consequence.”
Meanwhile, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has warned potential trouble makers to stay away from the state before, during and after the forthcoming elections in the state or risk the full wrath of the law, even as he vowed a crackdown by security agencies on illegal voting.
Governor Ahmed handed down this warning during a meeting of the Kwara State security committee in Ilorin, the state capital.
He said he has received the assurances from heads of security and paramilitary agencies in the state of their full readiness to curb any threat to the conduct of free elections by any individual or group.
He said the state government was ready to provide the logistic support required by security agencies to maintain law and order as well as protect lives and property during the elections.
The governor therefore called on all residents of the state to turnout in their numbers on Saturday to exercise their civic obligations and right to elect leaders of their choice, as security agencies, in partnership with the state government, would guarantee safety and security.
He urged Kwarans not to be alarmed by the presence of security agents deployed for election duties in the state, as he assured that they would be professional, fair and law-abiding in carrying out their duties.
On his part, the state’s Police Commissioner, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, said that more police personnel had been deployed in the state for election duty.
He said: “We have deployed more personnel than we deployed in the last election. That is part of the improvement in providing adequate security during the elections. We have deployed adequately to cover this election.
“I also want to tell you that based on credible intelligence at our disposal, from this (Thursday) night, we are going to intensify raid of criminal hideouts. We have been conducting raid operations before now. This will continue till Friday evening.”
Abia
The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Mr Ene Okon, said his men were fully prepared to ensure crisis-free elections in the state.
In a telephone interview with our correspondent, he said: “The INEC offices across the state are fully fortified with security. In each of the INEC local government offices, I have 12 Mobile Policemen to take care of security there. We have finished the operation order for the exercise which was released since Monday, and the relevant bodies have gotten theirs as well.
“We have done deployment of policemen, Civil Defence, Immigration, Customs, Road Safety and so on to all the 2,750 polling units in the state. We have done deployment of four Mobile Policemen to each of the RAC Centres.
“We have deployed 10 armed Mobile Policemen to all the local government areas. We have equally covered all the wards and collation centres with three mobile policemen respectively.
“Logistically, we are prepared. The Inspector General of Police (Mohammed Adamu) has graciously given us fuel and diesel. We have dispensed not less than 40 litres of petroleum products to each of the police vehicles on duty.
“You are aware that the allowances of all the policemen have been paid in advance. We have been able to take care of the welfare and logistics of our personnel who will be on duty on Saturday.
“We are assuring all Abians of security and urge them to go out and exercise their franchise. It is their civic right.
“We have declared political thugs our number one enemy. Anybody who thinks that he can bring problem during the election is the police enemy, because we want a peaceful election in this state. That is why we have to go the extra mile to fortify the security architecture in the state.
“Operationally, we don’t give out figures of policemen on duty for security reasons. The electoral act has specified our duties on the day of the election and we follow the electoral act provisions strictly.
“As we speak, there is ongoing show of force exercise in Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia and other areas that we may consider necessary for the exercise to hold. It will be on till Friday morning, and all these were geared towards the readiness of the security agencies to protect lives and properties of Abians and to tell those who want to cause trouble in the state before, during and after the election that we are ready to ensure that they don’t succeed.”
Rivers
Following reports of bloody violence which marred the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections in parts of Rivers State, residents of the state have cried out against the deployment of men of the Nigeria Army (NA) for today’s Governorship and state House of Assembly polls.
A cross section of residents who spoke with The Nation in Port Harcourt, the state capital, warned against the presence of soldiers in order not to discourage people from trooping out to vote.
The respondents all agreed that security presence would be needed for the polls, but believe that with the havocs allegedly wreaked by the military during the last exercise, their presence around the polling units again would discourage voters’ participation in the exercise.
A resident, Sobebo Princewill said: “We believe that what happened the last time is likely going to repeat itself. Yes, we want security but let them be professionals. But unfortunately, one of the problems we have is that these officers are not professional in their conduct.
“In fact, we don’t even want the military to come out, only the police can do the job, because the presence of the military can scare people away. Nobody will want to come out to vote on sighting them.
“Again, the security agencies are supposed to be apolitical, they are not supposed to be members of a political party and they are also not supposed to be anywhere close to the ballot boxes. They are meant to stay metres away from the electorate and not the other way round.
”So for me, they should bring in security (operatives), but they should be well sensitised to avoid any story.”
For Barinaka Michael, an indigene of Ogoni Kingdom in Rivers State, “there will be need for security, but not the Army. Government should not deploy soldiers. They do not have human sympathy to watch over civilians. Instead, they should bring the police, civil defense and other agencies.
“Again mere sighting the military men around will scare voters away, especially with the news of killings, violence and election rigging making the rounds about them. People will not want to come out to cast their votes on the account of the presence of soldiers around.
“Based on this, I suggest that the governments make arrangements for other security agencies for the polls, but not military men.” he said.
For Enyindah Ogbondah, an engineer and Ikwerre indigene, security should by all means be beefed up in the state. But he said that operatives should be stationed far away from the polling units.
“Let them bring the security agents and
Leave a Reply