By Emma Ogbuehi
Anambra State governorship election is billed to become Nigeria’s most policed poll ever.
This is going by the disposition of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba who has deployed 98 senior officers to the State ahead of the November 6 election in the state.
There have been violent attacks in Anambra and the sit-at-home ordered by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has cast a pall of doubt on the possibility of the election holding on the scheduled date.
On Saturday, IPOB announced that Anambra will be on lockdown from November 4 in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, who is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
But President Muhammadu Buhari had given the marching orders to security agencies to ensure smooth conduct of the Anambra governorship election.
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, on Monday, said the election would proceed as scheduled.
In a statement yesterday, IGP Baba ordered a “major overhauling” of the security architecture for Anambra State.
The police boss also directed that Joseph Egbunike, a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), be deployed as the state coordinator of the security component of the election.
Egbunike will oversee “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,” a statement by Force Headquarters spokesman Frank Mba, said.
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“DIG Egbunike will be assisted by the DIG in charge of Operations, acting DIG Zaki Ahmed. Other strategic commanders deployed to Anambra State include five Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), 14 Commissioners of Police (CPs), 31 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and 48 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).
“The senior officers are to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three senatorial districts, 21 local government areas and the 5,720 polling units in Anambra State.
“The IGP reassures the nation that the force is adequately prepared for the gubernatorial election in Anambra state come November 6, 2021,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police had earlier deployed over 34,000 personnel to Anambra State, ahead of the November 6 poll.
IGP Baba who disclosed that while meeting with various state police commissioners and heads of formations in Abuja penultimate week said three helicopters will also be deployed for surveillance during the poll in addition to animals and other equipment.
He further stated that the police were collaborating with sister agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the conduct of a peaceful election in the state.
Meanwhile, many ad-hoc staff expected to help in the election are said to be pulling out for fear of being attacked.
