TheCable

The Anambra state police command says it is fully prepared to provide adequate security during and after the state assembly election in the state.  

Aderemi Adeoye, the commissioner of police in charge of the house of assembly election duty in Anambra, asked residents to turn out en masse to participate in the elections without fear.

NAN reports that Adeoye said the command and other sister security agencies had been fully mobilised and were ready to ensure a hitch-free election.

He said no fewer than 7,000 personnel made up of a combined team of police, army, and other agencies would be on duty during and after the polls.

“Fortunately, the situation at the moment is calm, the environment is conducive and security is ready; all the agencies involved are set,” he was quoted as saying.

”The police in particular is fully mobilised to provide security for all and sundry taking part in the elections.

“We already have police stations and formations in all the 21 local government areas of the state; with the support of other sister agencies, we are going to have a presence in all polling units with teams on standby to respond to situations.

“We are going to give the people of Anambra a secure environment and space to exercise their franchise in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere.”

Adeoye said the personnel had been advised to be civil while providing security, but warned that the force would be firm and decisive in dealing with any breach.

The police commissioner said the security operation would also cover cross-border incursion.

“Those who wish to foment trouble should think twice, they should better be in their best behaviours so that they will be alive to tell the story,” he said.

Anambra is one of the eight states where only state assembly elections will be conducted on March 18.

The state has also witnessed a plethora of attacks by suspected gunmen who target security formations and public institutions in recent times.

On February 18, the police command in the state said gunmen attacked its station in Ogidi, Idemili north LGA.

Ikenga Tochukwu, the police spokesperson in the state, said the gunmen attacked the station and killed three police officers in the process.

“It wasn’t a bomb explosion, it was an attack by unknown gunmen and it resulted in the death of three of our officers,” he told TheCable.

“The hoodlums started shooting sporadically on approaching the area command and threw IEDs and petrol bombs, gaining entrance. Unfortunately, the buildings in the police facility were affected.”

Earlier in the same month, gunmen attacked the Idemili South LG office of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) in the state.

The gunmen were also said to have attacked the Nnobi police station.

A teenager was killed while another sustained gunshot injury in the police station attack.