The Nigerian Police Force will be conducting a two-day show of force ahead of the November 6 Anambra State governorship election to warn criminal individuals and groups planning to foment trouble.
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, revealed that 34,587 personnel would be deployed for the Anambra State election following a security threat analysis carried out by the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB).
According to a 25-page document obtained by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, the personnel would be selected from 27 state police commands, which are: Anambra, Delta, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Edo, Imo, Abia, Rivers, Bayelsa, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Kano, Kwara, Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba.
Personnel from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command and visiting police officers from the IGP’s secretariat, force headquarters, and so on, will also be in the state for the election.
According to the police operation order for Anambra election, the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) across the state’s land borders such as Ndoni/Ogbaru in Rivers State, Asaba/Ogbaru in Delta State and others are to ensure the lockdown of the borders.
Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) and military officers would be equally deployed to enforce restrictions of movement along the identified roads throughout the period of the election.
There would also be a show of force on Thursday, November 4, at about 9:30am, and a repeat of it on Friday, November 5, at about 8am in all the three senatorial districts of Anambra.
In the election to be held on November 6, 18 political parties across 326 wards of 21 local government areas will be vying for the seat of Anambra State Governor. Voting exercises are expected to take place at 5,720 polling units.
