By Chinelo Obogo
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has approved the deployment of 21,084 policemen to man the Anambra gubernatorial election, slated for November 18, 2017.
Mr. Idris made this known Tuesday during a dialogue with the Coalition of Nigerian Civil Society Organizations in Abuja.
He said 17,320 policemen would be deployed to the 4,330 polling units across the state while 280 of them would be deployed to the collation centres.
Idris further said that 2,484 of the security agents would be deployed to 414 major streets in the state throughout the election period, adding that the Force Headquarters would provide additional 300 vehicles to the 80 operational vehicles in the police command in Anambra.
The IGP said that additional police mobile force units had also been deployed to Anambra and other states in the South-East and South-South for the governorship election, explaining that the deployment was to ensure that criminal elements were removed from the states before the election.
Mr. Idris said some parts of Anambra State were already marked as “flash/vulnerable points of concerns” that would require “extra security arrangements.”
He listed the areas as Otuocha, Onitsha, Aguleri, Nzam, Anam, Achala, Ihiala, Ozubulu, Umunze, Ekwulobia and Okpoko, insisting that the deployment would build and increase the confidence of the people of the state in the police and other security agencies to protect them.
“I want to assure you that all necessary manpower and logistics to secure the electorate, electoral officials, monitors, observers and materials have been provided for the command,” he declared.
On the threat by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to disrupt the election, the Police boss said more security personnel are already on ground to intervene on any internal violence.
“The command has been directed to liaise with the community leaders such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the presidents-general of the various communities to prevail on their people in Anambra State not to allow their children and wards to be used to cause disruption of the election, disturbance of public peace, law and order.
“The command has equally been directed to synergize with other sister security and safety agencies to ensure the smooth conduct of the election. “Special Police Patrol of the general areas, stop and search, raiding of criminal hideouts and other crime prevention and control strategies are currently ongoing and will continue throughout the election period and beyond,” added.