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Tag: panic

  • Do not panic, police tell Abuja residents

    Do not panic, police tell Abuja residents

    The FCT Police Command has urged Abuja residents to disregard the rumour that some persons have been arrested in some parts of Abuja with explosives.

    This message, which was circulated on most social media platforms, goes thus:”I just got this, don’t know how true, but it’s worth the share and caution: Please, if you know anybody around Mararaba/Nyanya, tell them not to go close to the market or park for today. Soldiers just arrested some suicide bombers along keffi Road now, including children with bombs on their bodies and they confessed some had passed before them”.

    The FCT Command, in a statement by its spokesman, Anjuguri Manzah, described the rumours as the handiwork of those who are bent on causing panic.

    The command has also warned residents living around Nyanya, Jikwoyi and Karshi of the FCT that as part of the training routine of the Nigeria Police Force, the force will hold its shooting range practice at the Police Range Ground, Karshi.

    The statement, in part, reads: “The FCT Police Command wishes to enjoin the law-abiding residents of the Federal Capital Territory to discard the rumours making the rounds on the social media that some persons have been arrested at the FCT-Nasarawa Boundary with IEDs.

    “This is the handiwork of distracters who are hell-bent on instilling fear and unnecessary panic in the minds of peace-loving residents”.

    The statement also noted that the CP,  Muhammad Mustafa, has put in place adequate security measures to protect lives and property within the Federal Capital Territory.

    The Commissioner of Police also charged social media handlers to always verify information before circulating it through their respective platforms.

     On the shooting range exercise, the statement said:”We wish to notify residents of the Federal Capital Territory, especially those living around Nyanya, Jikwoyi and Karshi axis that, as part of the training routine of the Nigeria Police Force, the force will hold its shooting range practice at the Police Range Ground, Karshi”.

    The police said that the range practice exercise will hold today from 7:00am to 4:00pm.

  • Panic as men in military uniforms invade Gbaramatu communities

    Men in military gears believed to be operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF), codenamed Operation Delta Safe (ODS) yesterday stormed two Ijaw communities in Warri South-West council area of Delta state, including Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

    Although the mission of the men on the operation was not officially confirmed, it was gathered it was not unconnected with recent escalating militant activities in the area resulting in the destruction of some critical oil facilities.

    Efforts to get confirmation of the operations were carried out by the military were unsuccessful.

    It was however gathered the men broke into several houses in search of targeted persons, causing residents to desert their homes and seek cover in the bushes.

    The soldiers were said to have arrived Oporoza at about 8am in speedboats and gunboats.

    They reportedly made their way into the community immediately.

    The second community they reportedly visited was Tebujor.

    Chairman of Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, confirmed the incident when contacted on phone.

    He noted that many residents fled to the bush upon sighting the armed soldiers.

    Mulade, who is also the National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), told our correspondent that many of the people who fled into the bush for cover including women and children had not been seen.

    He called on the federal government to halt incessant harassment of their kinsmen as many of them were already traumatised and finding it difficult to cope.

     

    Efforts to get spokesman of the ODS, Lt Col Olaolu Daodu, to confirm the operation, were unsuccessful.

  • Snakes cause panic in Bayelsa

    Snakes cause panic in Bayelsa

    Sudden appearances of snakes especially Cobras on streets and homes in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital is creating panic among residents.

    Some persons attributed the development to consistent rainfalls and floods experienced in many parts of the capital city.

    Others, however, said the underdeveloped nature of Yenagoa which has bushes, unkempt canals and many undeveloped plots of land provide safe haven for snakes and reptiles.

    Residents of the Apex Academy road of Amarata community on Imgbi road at the weekend were said to have discovered a giant cobra in a vehicle and rallied round to kill it.

    One of the residents identified as Chidera, said the cobra was discovered in a vehicle owned by a trader.

    “At about 7am, the owner of the vehicle, Emmanuel, called an auto repairer to fix the vehicle but discovered a large snake hiding in the vehicle.

    “The man rushed to call some residents of the area to assist him. Some youths gathered and killed the snake”, he said.

    Another resident identified as Joshua‎, said there have been movements of snakes around the Amarata since the rainfall started.

    “Some weeks ago, I saw a huge snake at the back of my house in the morning. Attempts to kill the cobra failed as it was ready to strike”, he said.

    But a local snake expert, Festus Ogienwon, advised residents to be careful while walking at night.

    He further asked people to ensure their doors are tightly closed at all time to avoid snakes crawling into their apartments to hide.

  • Stop panic buying of petrol, NNPC urges

    Stop panic buying of petrol, NNPC urges

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday enjoined petrol consumers not to engage in panic buying because the Corporation has enough supply to go round the country.

    Its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Malam Garba Deen Muhammad assured that the current petrol shortage would soon be over noting that the problem has been largely resolved in Lagos and the queues in Abuja are reducing by the day.

    Panic buying according to the statement is what is making motorists to converge in a particular filling stations thereby creating scarcity especially in Abuja.

    He said over 200 trucks laden with petrol were supplied to Abuja and its environs yesterday adding that the trend will continue.

    Muhammad gave the assurances that the corporation is doing everything possible to ensure supply and distribution of products is not disrupted in any way.

    He appealed to motorists to be orderly while waiting to buy petrol and also urged marketers not to hoard the product.

  • Lassa fever hits Ekiti, Delta

    Lassa fever hits Ekiti, Delta

    •Two more victims die in Plateau •Medical worker quarantined  •250 under watch in Rivers

    THERE was panic yesterday in Ido Ekiti, headquarters of Ido/Osi Local Government Area, Ekiti State and Asaba, Delta State following the confirmation of two Lassa fever cases.

    The victim in Ekiti State, a Nursing student, is now on admission at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti (FETHI) after testing positive to the virus on Saturday.

    It came barely 48 hours after the House of Assembly’s Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, described Ekiti as an example to other states in the management of Lassa fever.

    Commissioner for Health Dr. Olurotimi Ojo, who confirmed the case yesterday at a meeting on Lassa fever in Ado Ekiti, said the patient was isolated and that doctors were battling to save her life.

    Ojo said he confirmed the case from FETHI Chief Medical Director, Dr. Lawrence Ayodele, who also established that the victim is a Nursing student.

    The patient was said to have been treated for malaria and typhoid fever with high profile antibiotics, but did not respond to treatment.

    Ojo said: “Over the weekend, the state confirmed a case of Lassa fever that is being managed at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti. The patient is stable and had commenced treatment.

    “Immediately the patient was diagnosed and confirmed, the management began the process of contact-tracing. Once you have an index case, there is tendency of having a primary case and a possible spread and this could be dangerous.

    “Though, the doctors are handling the situation and monitoring the situation closely. So, nobody has been quarantined after the contact-tracing.”

    He advised residents to take precautionary measures and refrain from taking risk that could lead to the contact or spread of the disease.

    The Speaker, on Sunday, at a church service, urged health workers in the state to “maintain the tempo of success you are recording in the health sector, particularly on the issue of the rampaging Lassa fever”.

    The confirmed case in Delta State is a 65-year-old woman from Ifiogwari village, Ayamelunu, Anambra State, who came for treatment in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    She was first admitted at St. Joseph’s Hospital before being referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, when her condition worsened.

    The Delta State Rapid Response Team said it placed 22 persons, who had contact with the confirmed case on surveillance and five samples were sent for laboratory investigation.

    The state government has informed the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, on the developments.

    Lassa fever is caused by a virus found in the urine and faeces of a specie of rat when it contaminates food or water or come in contact with broken skin of humans.

    Infected persons spread the disease when their body fluids, such as blood, faeces, urine, sperm and vomit come in contact with others.

    Rivers State Commissioner for Health Dr. Theophilus Odagme yesterday confirmed the admission of a medical worker of Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), at one of the three quarantine centres created by the state for prompt isolation and treatment of Lassa fever victims.

    Odagme spoke through a statement by his Press Officer, Paul Baziah-Nsaneh, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    He said 250 persons were placed under surveillance across the state and that the state “is doing everything possible to ensure the virus does not spread further”.

    Lassa fever outbreak was reported in the state in December.

    Also yesterday, workers of Emergency Medical Service of the BMSH locked up the gates of the government-owned hospital, following 14 months’ unpaid salaries by the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration.

    The workers proceeded to the Government House, where they made known their grievances.

    They said they were at the centre of the risk of contracting the disease and threatened to stop work.

    Members of the state Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) have been on a warning strike for  the abduction of two of their members by gunmen.

    Lassa Fever has claimed two more lives in Plateau, the government confirmed yesterday in Jos.

    Commissioner for Health Mr Kuden Dayin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the victims died at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) on Saturday.

    This brings to three those killed after the commissioner confirmed the death of one person at Ting village in Fombur District of Mangu Local Government Area last week.

    According to Dayin, relations, friends and health workers, who came in contact with the victims, were placed under surveillance.

    He added that 32 persons were under surveillance in Mangu, from the 15 placed under surveillance last week.

    But the commissioner said none of those under surveillance showed any sign of symptoms of the disease.

    But the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) yesterday decried the inadequate diagnostic laboratory facilities despite persistent outbreaks.

    This, AMLSN stated, was not in tandem with the principle of universal health coverage, which, it said, has to be accessible, available and affordable.

    The body, therefore, called on the Federal Government to consider the idea of specialised public health laboratories against emerging and re-emerging hemorrhagic fevers as Ebola, Lassa Fever and others.

     

  • Panic in Saraki camp over President’s snub

    Panic in Saraki camp over President’s snub

    •Reconciliation yet to start in APC

    There is panic in the camp of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, following President Muhammadu Buhari’s silence on the protracted crises in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) triggered by the controversial election of the National Assembly principal officers.

    Presidency sources said the President, after reviewing the events that culminated into the controversial steps taken by APC senators, expressed concern about the implications of the crisis for the ruling party and his government.

    Also, reconciliation has not commenced in the party, contrary to reports that it has taken off. A party official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity yesterday, said the APC national caucus meeting slated for today, had been put off because “anger is still raging.” The source also said that the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) also scheduled for this week was put on hold. However, the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party will hold on Friday, although the crisis may not be one of the items on the agenda.

    President Buhari has not officially received Dr. Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers since their elections, which violated party directives. The President, said the source, was particularly unhappy about the emergence of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Ike Ekweremadu, as the deputy Senate president.

    “The President is yet to commence official dealings with the National Assembly. He may not have anything to do with them, until the imbroglio is resolved. That may have informed his decision to postpone ministerial nominations,” said the source.

    President Buhari, the source said, was appalled by the rejection of the directive of the party leadership during the election of principal officers. Although the party had endorsed Senator Ahmad Lawan for the position of the Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila as the House Speaker, following the pre-inauguration mock election conducted by the party, Saraki allegedly mobilised his camp to team up with the PDP Senate caucus to undermine the party’s directive.

    Ahead of the election, a deal was allegedly worked out with the PDP members to swing the votes towards Saraki, with a promise to reward the PDP with the position of the deputy Speaker. The result was the emergence of a bi-partisan leadership in the National Assembly.

    Also, the senators and House members also rejected the directive of the party on the selection of other principal officers-Majority Leaders, Deputy Majority Leaders, Chief Whips and Deputy Chief Whips. In fact, the Senate President and Speaker refused to read the letter of the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, on the matter on the floor of the House. APC had endorsed Senator George Akume and Femi Gbajabiamila for the positions of Majority leaders, the directive was turned down. Instead, Saraki named Senator Ali Udume as the Senate leader.

    According to the source, the President felt betrayed by some party leaders, who allegedly fuelled the festering crisis by supporting the senators who rejected the party’s directive. “This has led to some forms of mutual suspicion, mistrust, distrust and confidence. In fact, I suspect that the crisis is an eye opener for the President. These events may shape the next critical steps he will take, especially on appointments and the anti-corruption war.”

    On reconciliation, the party chieftain said: “Difficult days lay ahead for the APC, the Senate and the House of Representatives,” adding that “the past must be revisited before navigating into the future.”

    The National Assembly has adjourned sittings till next month. During the three week-break, the Senate President and Speaker are expected to reach out to aggrieved leaders and stakeholders who were taken aback by the affront on the party leadership. Another source said: “The plan is to send powerful emissaries to the President and other aggrieved leaders so that they can put the past behind them. The fear is that, having ignored the party’s directive on the selection of the National Assembly principal officers, they may be excluded from making contributions to ministerial nominations. The Senate President and the Speaker will promise to give concessions to the Lawan/Akume and Gbajabiamila/Mongono camps during the composition of National Assembly committees. But, the problem is that trust has been eroded.”

    The source added: “The bi-partisanship leadership of the National Assembly has implications for the APC. The deputy Senate president is from the minority party. In the absence of the Speaker, someone from the minority party will preside. Automatically, the Senate President is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment. He is the representative of the National Assembly in the ECOWAS Parliament. He receives the budget on behalf of the Senate from the President. This is the greatest problem for the ruling party now.”

     

  • Panic in Delta community as militants evict family

    The leadership crisis rocking oil-rich Odimodi in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State worsened at the weekend, following the eviction order to two prominent families by suspected militants.

    A former youths’ chairman, Prince Wilfred Ikiere and Vice President of the youths’ group, Mr James Benarode, were forced to flee  the community in March because they opposed the hijack of the leadership by a faction.

    It was learnt that their sibblings in the town were warned on Sunday to leave Odimodi by Monday (yesterday) morning.

    Confirming the eviction order, Ikiere said: “At 5 pm yesterday, the self-acclaimed chairman of the community, Mr Benjamin Gbesine, instructed the cartel in Odimodi that our relations, including my two brothers, five sisters and others, should leave the town this (Monday) morning.

    “They were given until 7 am today (Monday) to leave the town or face unpleasant consequences. I have a large family and they are using militants to intimidate and harass my family since I was forced to leave over threats to my life and intimidation.

    “I know that they want to chase our family away so that they can have access to our houses to plant arms. They will then call in the police and other security agencies to implicate us for gun-running.”

    Attempts to reach Gbesine were futile. He rebuffed our attempts to get his commenets on the crisis on the telephone, insisting on a meeting.

    But Ikiere said one of the opponents of the forceful takeover of the community by Gbesine, Chief Futek Zikoregha, an anti-bunkering activist, had been languishing in the cell of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja, since his arrest on April 1.

    “If Zikoregha, who the world recognises as a fighter against illegal bunkering and militancy in the Niger Delta, can be arrested on trumped up charges, then they can do much worse to us. That is why we are crying out about the latest antic of this gang.”

     

     

     

     

  • Panic in NNPC, other oil agencies

    Panic in NNPC, other oil agencies

    •Jonathan’s administration begins reconciliation of crude oil records
    •How Mandela predicted President-elect’s victory

    The victory of General Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 presidential election is already causing panic in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other Federal Government-owned companies in the oil/energy sector.

    Officials of the companies, many of whom did not anticipate President Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat, are now under pressure to bring their accounts and oil receipts up to date for presentation to the in-coming government.

    Some of the information is even expected to be made available during the transitional period in the coming days.

    President Jonathan yesterday kick-started the transition by meeting with General Buhari at the State House, Abuja, even as associates of the President-elect recalled how the late President Nelson Madela of South Africa predicted,12 years ago, that Buhari would one day return to lead Nigeria as a civilian president.

    It was gathered that the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has commenced the reconciliation of crude oil production records including royalties and other funds remitted into government accounts and taxes paid to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    Government expects oil records to dominate discussion at the transition committee briefings since oil is Nigeria’s financial back bone. It is a familiar terrain for Buhari who was Commissioner (as the position was designated under the military) for Petroleum Resources in the 1970s.

    Lately, public interest in the finances of the NNPC has soared, sparked by an allegation by the immediate past governor of the Central Bank (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi that $20 billion of its funds was missing.

    For instance, he told a Senate Committee hearing on the allegation that NNPC officials were withholding large amounts of money from crude oil exports from the Federation account.

    He said that during the period 2012-2013, the NNPC sliced off 76% of crude oil proceeds – a total of N8 trillion ($48.9 billion).

    Sanusi was later suspended and is now the Emir of Kano.

    His predecessor at the CBN, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, said in a different allegation that about N30tr was either missing or unaccounted for by the Federal Government.

    An audit report prepared by Price Water House Coopers on NNPC finances showed that less than $2 billion was missing.

    Government asked the corporation to pay the money forthwith into its account.

    An oil/gas sector source said yesterday that a major issue being addressed by the outgoing administration is how to put oil records in proper perspective because the new government will be interested.

    “There is panic in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other subsidiaries on oil receipts,”the source said.

    “Already, officials of some of these agencies have been working round the clock to reconcile oil records in order to be able to face the Buhari transition team.

    “Some of these agencies might also meet with FIRS to make sure that the records tally. No one expected a Buhari presidency but it has now come. This requires working round the clock to give full account of oil production and revenue.”

    Another source said: “Feelers indicate that Nigerians would want cogent explanation on the controversial $20 billion.

    “So, the development in the oil sector is key to the work of the transition committee.”

    Sources also said that some of the international oil companies (IOCs) are prepared to make their records available to Buhari.

    “You can see that if any attempt is made to pad the records by any agency, the IOCs will not be part of it. This is why it is necessary for every official to be straightforward.

    “Some of the IOCs are willing to release the records in their care to assist the government to put things in order in NNPC and other agencies.”

    On Mandela’s prediction, Buhari’s associates said it had been a massive motivation all these years.

    One of the associates said that shortly after losing the 2003 presidential poll to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mandela had a one-hour engagement on the phone with Buhari.

    Mandela asked Buhari not to lose hope about ruling the country.

    Mandela said: “I spent 27 years in jail and came out to become South Africa’s President. You can still be president.

    “Since the election of Buhari, what Mandela said 12 years ago has been resuscitated. We were all excited when we saw a copy of the newspaper which reported Mandela’s advice to Buhari. Though he is dead, his prediction has come to pass.

    “This has confirmed his sage status. His golden words were part of those behind the resilience of Buhari. We are hopeful that the President-elect will serve the nation like Mandela did because they share many things in common, especially selfless service.”

  • Panic in Abraka as fire razes bakery

    Panic in Abraka as fire razes bakery

    A midnight fire at a bakery in Abraka left residents and students in the Delta State University (DELSU) host community in distress. The incident happened at 1am on Thursday, last week at Manner Bakery at NEPA Line area of Abraka.

    The cause of the inferno was unknown at press time but residents said an explosion followed the fire outbreak, causing panic in the neighbourhood.

    A resident, whose house is close to the bakery, said the incident sent a wave of shock to the neighbourhood, describing it as “unexpected”. He said: “I heard a loud bang and a thick smoke billowed from the bakery. I woke up the neighbours for help.”

    The inferno, the eyewitness said, became uncontrollable. “We could not do anything to contain the fire after the explosion. When men of the fire service arrived, the damage had already been done,” he said.

    A worker in the bakery said the fire could have been an act of sabotage, noting that there was no power supply in the area when the incident happened.

    When CAMPUSLIFE visited the scene, charred materials littered the place as the building was razed.

    A bakery worker said raw materials delivered to the bakery the previous day, including 20 bags of flour, sugar and machine were destroyed.

    A 300-Level Pharmacy student, Judith Oghenemaro, who lives in the neighborhood, said: “I was reading when I heard a deafening bang and shout of fire. I was dazed for a moment because I thought it was bomb blast.”

     

     

  • Polls: Panic as Jonathan deploys troops in states

    Polls: Panic as Jonathan deploys troops in states

    •Kwara, Edo, Delta residents scared

    •It’s show of force, says military 

    President Goodluck Jonathan may have ordered the deployment of soldiers in some states  – in defiance of court verdicts that the military has no role in elections.

    There was panic in Kwara State at the weekend as residents saw troops in the streets.

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed issued a statement, calling for calm.

    The military said troops were being deployed to maintain the peace before, during and after Saturday’s elections.

    The spokesman of the Army’s 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi,  Lt. Weri Finikumor, said 300 troops were deployed in Ilorin and the other local government areas.

    Lt.Finikumor added that the soldiers would maintain security and not meddle in the conduct of the presidential election.

    He added that the soldiers would stand 300 meters away from the polling booths and would not be involved in anything pertaining to electoral materials, including ballot papers and boxes.

    Lt. Finikumor said the police would provide security around the polling units, adding that soldiers would intervene on invitation of the police if there is a major security threat which the police cannot handle.

    The military’s role in the polls has been controversial. While the military high command said the president, who is the Commander-in-Chief could deploy troops, the opposition parties have warned against the deployment of troops for the polls, fearing they could be used to intimidate voters and supporters of the opposition.

    Besides, the Court of appeal has declared that the military should have no role in elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also said soldiers will not be used for elections — except in an emergency.

    Ahmed urged Kwarans not to panic.

    The governor, in a special announcement, said soldiers were deployed in the 16 local government areas to maintain law and order during the elections.

    The statement reads: “My good people of Kwara State. For many years, we have lived in harmony, regardless of our differences.

    “Our people are friendly and peaceful. And so, as we prepare to vote for leaders of our choice in the forthcoming elections, I urge you to remain calm and law abiding.

    ”The army and other security agencies have been deployed in all the 16 local governments to keep the peace and protect you. Your safety is guaranteed. Perform your civic duties without fear. All you need to do is cast your vote, wait for the counting and return home.

    “We are a peaceful people and we will remain peaceful long after the elections have come and gone. Kwara State: It’s good here.”

    In Edo State, there was a parade across major streets in the South Senatorial District, termed “Show of Force” by security agencies –Army, Police, Department of State Security(DSS), National Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Prison Services and others.

    The parade took off from Ring Road to Ekenwan and then proceeded to Ugbowo. Okada, Iguobazuwa, Siluko Road, Textile Mill Junction and New Benin, before moving on to Benin Agbor Road to Abudu axis.

    Spokesman of the army’s 4 Brigade, Captain Abubakar Abdullahi, said the exercise was to demonstrate the unity among the security agencies towards ensuring a violence-free election. He encouraged the populace to feel free and safe to go about exercising their constitutional rights of voting and being voted for without harassment.

    Captain Abdullahi said: “What is going on today is a show of force, a way of demonstrating our preparedness for a free and fair, peaceful, credible elections coming up. It’s meant to show the level of unity existing among all the security agencies in Edo State and how we will work together to ensure we have violence-free elections.”

    “The patrol will take the whole day, and will cover the entire southern part of Edo State.”

    The 222 Battalion, Zone 2 of Sector 1, JTF, Pulo Shield, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State assured residents of violence-free elections and protection during the elections.

    Ughelli North Local Government Council Chairman Kenneth Ibru inaugurated a newly constructed office for the battalion’s Regimental Sergeant Major, Leonard Onah.

    The Commanding Officer, 222 Battalion, Lt.-Col. Mathew Oyekola, who gave this assurance during the show of force, told the combined force of Army, Vigilance group, FRSC and other security agents that the exercise was meant to give confidence to the public that security agencies under the overall umbrella of the Armed Forces are capable of protecting them during the elections.

    Lt.-Col. Oyekola said the need for the show of force became necessary to give the electorate reassurance that the forces were prepared and ready to protect them as they came out to cast their vote during the elections.

    Warning against violence during the polls, Oyekola said they were not unaware of the violence- prone areas where politicians perpetrate malpractices, assuring them of bringing to book any person caught violating the law during the elections.

    He said the drive around more than 10 local government areas that the command covers was carried out to sensitise the populace that the force will not be ready to take for granted any misconduct.

    ”We will do our best to protect all voters and we will not ignore any phone calls where our attention will be needed for immediate action. All areas where they are perpetrating that act of carrying ballot boxes, we will ensure that there is relative peace and no snatching of ballot boxes or creating violence,” he said.