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Police justify massive security deployment in Anambra, cautions troublemakers

By Terhemba Daka (Abuja) and Uzoma Nzeagwu (Awka)
29 October 2021   |   3:42 am
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has said that despite criticisms, the mass deployment of security operatives for the Anambra State governorship election is necessary to stop criminals from disrupting the process.

IGP Usman Alkali Baba. Photo/POLICENG

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has said that despite criticisms, the mass deployment of security operatives for the Anambra State governorship election is necessary to stop criminals from disrupting the process.

The police boss, who appeared at the ministerial media briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the State House, Abuja, yesterday, said “to ensure that people come out enmasse, the police used jingles and consultation with stakeholders to assure them of safety.

He assured that most of the officers that would be assigned to polling stations would not carry arms as being insinuated.

“As for the massive deployment, yes, it has advantage and disadvantage. That is why knowing the fact that it has disadvantage of, maybe, militarising the electoral process, we try to use public enlightenment, the engagement of stakeholders that our presence is to police the situation in two ways.

“While we are asking people to come out and vote, another group or other subversive elements are saying ‘don’t come. If you come, we’ll do this, we’ll do that.’ So, there must be some level of assurance that we would give to these people to come out, and that requires massive deployment of officers and men, who would also ensure that subversive elements do not take over the process,” he said.

IN the same vein, Anambra State Police Command has reassured the citizens of a comprehensive, round-the-clock security network before, during and after the November 6 governorship election.

The Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, gave the assurance during a press briefing on the level of preparedness ahead of the poll, at the Police Headquarters, Awka, yesterday.

Echeng, who warned troublemakers to steer clear of the election, called on the electorate to come out en masse to exercise their franchise.

According to him, the IGP has provided the command with helicopter for aerial surveillance, gunboats to patrol waterways, enough vehicles among others.

His words: “From tomorrow (Friday), you will be seeing us on the streets because we intend to dominate the space, and the dominance is to reassure the people of the state of their security to exercise their franchise on election day.

“We are going to be very civil to them, but for the troublemakers, very firm and decisive.”

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