Security operatives in Rivers State conducted a show of force on Friday to reassure residents of their safety ahead of the local government elections scheduled for Saturday.

The joint security team, comprising personnel from the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other allied agencies, moved through major streets in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas.

The exercise, which kicked off from the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, featured a convoy of patrol vehicles displaying operational readiness to maintain peace and order before, during, and after the polls.

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, had earlier reiterated that comprehensive security measures had been put in place to ensure a free, fair, and credible exercise.

The Rivers State Police Command announced an 18-hour curfew starting from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, to ensure the safety of citizens during the election.

The restriction applies to both human and vehicular movement, with exemptions for essential workers and election-related personnel who will be given passes and identity tags for free movement.

The security agencies have urged residents to cooperate fully with security agents and adhere strictly to the movement restriction order to avoid confrontation or arrest.

They have also warned cultists and political thugs to stay away, stressing that the police will take decisive action against troublemakers.