*Warns Subversive Elements, Political Thugs To Keep Off State
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba on Thursday said a total of 34,587 personnel would be deployed for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, promising that the Force was adequately prepared to ensure free and fair in the state.
This came just as the IGP warned subversive elements and political actors who would want to adopt undemocratic and illegal means to achieve their aspirations to bury such thoughts and to keep off the State in their own interest.
The IGP disclosed this in Abuja during a scheduled meeting with Police officers from the rank of Commissioners of Police (CPs) and above.
According to him, the deployment will consist of conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force, the Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Forces, Explosive Ordinance Unit, Force Intelligence Bureau, INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit, and the medical team respectively.
He added that the deployment would also include three helicopters for aerial surveillance as well as detachments of Marine Police operatives to ensure a safe, secure, and credible electoral process in the same.
According to him, the police have also emplaced adequate forward and reverse logistics arrangements for a seamless police operation in the state.
He pointed out that the deployment followed the outcome of the election security threat analysis conducted by the Force Intelligence Bureau ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state.
According to him, “based on the outcome of the analysis, we have developed a strategic election security operation plan which will involve the mobilisation of 34,587 police personnel to the state.
“Let me use this opportunity to assure all citizens and stakeholders, including the International Community of our determination to work with other security agencies to stabilise the prevailing situation in Anambra State ahead of the election.
“The idea is to create a conducive and enabling environment that will guarantee peaceful conduct of the election, we are also committed to partnering with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the dictates of the electoral act to deliver a credible election in Anambra State.”
He called on the CPs to strengthen security architecture in their commands to prevent anticipated security threats as the year was coming to an end.
