…protect all sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials
Anambra State police command said it has deployed unarmed law enforcement agents to man the 5,720 poling units across the state ahead of Presidential, National and state House of Assembly elections.
The Command, through its spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, also assured escortion and protection of all Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) personnel and ad-hoc staff on election duty in synergy with the military and sister security agencies.
It said the Command would also escort and protect all sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials as may be required by INEC.
The statement partly reads, “The police will provide robust security/confidence building patrols across communities to reassure the citizenry and encourage voters to come out and exercise their franchise freely.
“We’ll maintain formidable rapid response teams across all the 326 wards to promptly and effectively respond to any distress call; as well as enforce movement restriction orders.”
While calling on people of the State to come out on election days to exercise their franchise without fear of favour, the Police advised political gladiators and supporters to play according to rules, as anyone found wanting, shall be dealt with according to the law.
“In the words of the President and Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, “Nigerians should vote for whoever they like from whatever party.
“Nobody will be allowed to mobilize resources and thugs to intimidate people in any constituency.
“To members the fourth estate and the civil society, I urge you to be more patriotic, as you discharge your duties. Together, we can make our country proud,” the statement concluded.