How we achieved peaceful polls, Mbu

Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Joseph Mbu, has said the threat he issued to kill 20 people for every policeman killed made the conduct of the Lagos State election peaceful. Mbu spoke on Saturday at the state’s Command Headquarters after monitoring the election in some parts of the state.

The entourage covered the Ikeja, Agege, Alimosho, Somolu, Ogudu, Yaba, Lagos Island, Gbagada areas of Lagos, among others. There was no chaos or fight in all the areas as residents cheered the police team.

However, three people were arrested along the Ikeja GRA for moving around in their cars, while a passerby, who attempted recording the scene, was equally apprehended. His smartphone was smashed to the ground by a policeman.

A vehicle, which number plate was also covered, was intercepted along the road and searched by the team, but no incriminating material was found. The cover was later removed.

In a related event, five policemen, including a Divisional Police Officer, were involved in an accident that occurred at Wasinmi area along Lagos – Abeokuta expressway in Ewekoro local government area of Ogun State. The policemen were monitoring the governorship and state Assembly elections when the accident occurred. The policemen had serious injuries from the accident.

According to an eyewitness account, the rickety Hilux bus of the Nigeria Police Force with registration number NPF 8182 C belonging to Ewekoro Divisional Police had a front burst tyre before it somersaulted several times leaving its occupants seriously injured.

It was also gathered that the Divisional Police Officer, identified as B.O. Bakare, was posted from Ado Odo division to monitor election in the area.

At the end of the tour, Mbu lauded the courage of policemen in the state and the orderly conduct of the election. Asked what was responsible for the peaceful conduct of the elections, Mbu said, “Generally, people are becoming more and more mature, sensitive and reasonable.

He said, “and anyway, the statement I made, which generated a lot of controversy; people misconstrued it all over, but that also helped the police because people say, ‘this man has come o and whatever he says, he means it’, and that also instilled fear in them.

“Go and check all the places where I have served, how many people have died? We don’t kill that way. But you have to instill fear so that people will have more respect for the police.

“You know how police were perceived those days, but now police give orders and people say police cannot do anything. But with those few words I said, people are now scared and say, ‘if you misbehave, police are going to react’. Now we have succeeded as far as I am concerned.”