The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali-Baba, has deployed a Deputy Inspector General and 99 other strategic commanders to Anambra State ahead of the November 6 gubernatorial election in the state. The deployment, according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, was aimed at overhauling the security landscape in the state ahead of the polls. The commanders would be led by Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Joseph Egbunike and the Acting DIG in-charge of operations, Zaki Ahmed. They have a mandate to ensure effective supervision of security personnel and operations during the election. The statement reads in part: “DIG Egbunike is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful environment devoid of violence and conducive enough to guarantee that law abiding citizens freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation. “Other Strategic Commanders deployed to Anambra State include five (5) Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), fourteen (14) Commissioners of Police (CPs), thirty-one (31) Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and forty-eight (48) Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs)”. The senior officers are also to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three Senatorial Districts, 21 Local Government Areas and the 5720 polling units in Anambra State. The IGP reassured Nigerians that the Force is adequately prepared for the November 6 gubernatorial election and will collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other key players in the state. The statement added, “The IGP calls on citizens in Anambra State to come out en masse and exercise their franchise as adequate security has been emplaced to protect them before, during and after the elections.” Recall that the police on October 14, deployed 34,587 personnel and three helicopters, technical capabilities of the Police Airwing, the Force Marine, Force Animal Branch and other operational assets for the election. Anambra has in the last 52 days recorded no fewer than 37 deaths, out of which 10 were security operatives. |
