‘Election not war’ – Stakeholders react as IGP deploys over 34,000 officers, 3 helicopters, others to Anambra – Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

‘Election not war’ – Stakeholders react as IGP deploys over 34,000 officers, 3 helicopters, others to Anambra

Published

3 years ago

on

Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba

Stakeholders have questioned the move by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba to deploy a total of 34,587 police personnel, three Police Helicopters, technical capabilities of the Police Airwing, the Force Marine and the Force Animal Branch, and other operational assets to Anambra State ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

DAILY POST had reported that the IGP, during the 2nd Strategic Police Managers Conference for Senior Police Officers from the rank of Commissioner of Police and above at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, said the move was to ensure a hitch-free election in Anambra State.

According to Baba, the 34,587 personnel comprising of conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit (SPU) as well as Police Medical Teams, will be on ground to guarantee protection of lives and properties during the election.

The announcement has, however, triggered backlash from concerned stakeholders who picked holes in the IGP’s decision, describing it as preparation for ‘war’.

Some of the stakeholders who spoke with DAILY POST on Friday, also expressed fear that such move would intimidate the voters, saying apathy may mar the election which has been scheduled for November 6.

A top political official who spoke to our correspondent from Benue State on anonymity, alleged that the move was for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to intimidate other parties and claim the state.

Anambra guber: Police committed to securing electoral processes, others – IGP Baba“We know their plans. It is now clear to Nigerians that this APC is out to gain power by all means, otherwise, how can the IGP be mobilizing about 34,587 police officers for just one state election? Are we preparing for war? It is obvious.

Read Also: https://newstrends.ng/2021/10/15/lagos-extends-period-of-traffic-diversion-on-apapa-oshodi-expressway/

Read Also: https://newstrends.ng/2021/10/15/youve-failed-your-constituents-ganduje-hits-back-at-shekarau-others/

“We are all aware of the security situation in Anambra State but that does not call for this kind of move. Who will hear this news and still come out to vote that day? Of course everybody would want to save his or her life first. I think their plan is to keep voters away from the polling unit so that they can do whatever they want”.

The National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko told DAILY POST that the 34,587 policemen the IGP claimed may not be true.

According to him, the Nigerian Police force has no accurate statistics of officers deployed to a particular area. He alleged that those in charge of the deployment only formulated the figures just to embezzle public fund.

He said, “Nigerian Police force has lost focus from a very long period of time. They always engage in fire brigade approaches particularly in national matters. The issue of Anambra election does not call for the IGP to deploy such number of policemen to the state.

If the Nigerian Government had listened to ideas and suggestions that so many people including the right group, HURIWA, NGOs and other stakeholders have been making over some years now, there wouldn’t be need for this.

“We have been calling on the government to reform the police but the government seems to be very comfortable with the dysfunctional police.

“Nigeria does not even have an accurate data of exact number of how many policemen are serving in a particular area. They are only using fathom statistics to siphon public fund. There is no statistics to say we have about 3,000 policemen in Benue State or 4,000 officers in Kaduna State so the number of personnel the IGP has declared that they are sending to Anambra may not even be accurate.

“They may just send like 5,000 policemen and tell Nigerians that they have mobilized over 34,000. The way the police service commission was set up, clearly shows that it was established not to work”.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who spoke to DAILY POST from Ozubulu Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Emeka backed the IGP, stating that the state has been enveloped with security crisis since the beginning of the year.

He, however, warned against alleged plans by some political party to take advantage of the security situation in the state to rig the November election, saying the entire world is watching.

“Since January this year, Anambra State has not been the same, there have been killings in many parts of the state. As I speak to you, many residents have vowed to remain indoors on the election day.

“So if there is anything the government is doing to remove fear from the voters, I think that should be a welcome development. But they should note that we are all set for the election, Nigerians are watching, the world is watching; no body can rig Anambra election so whoever is planning that should rescind,”Chief Emeka added.

Daily Post

Related Topics:
Advertisement

metro

BREAKING: Appeal Court stops Sanusi’s reinstatement as Kano emir

Published

13 minutes ago

on

March 14, 2025

By

BREAKING: Appeal Court stops Sanusi’s reinstatement as Kano emir

 

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has stopped the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.

The court on Friday halted the enforcement of its January 10 judgment, which upheld the Kano State government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirates Council Law, pending the Supreme Court’s determination of an appeal on the same matter.

The ruling was unanimously delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Okon Abang.

It ruled that the applicant, having served as Emir for five years before his removal, had legal rights that required protection until the Supreme Court delivers a final verdict.

The appellate court had earlier set aside a June 20, 2024 ruling by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano, which nullified the Kano State government’s dissolution of five emirates in the state and the subsequent reinstatement of Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The Court of Appeal then ruled that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over the case

Dissatisfied with the ruling, an injunction request was filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi (Sarkin Dawaki Babba) against the Kano State Government, the Speaker of the State Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies.

Dan Agundi sought to restrain the respondents from enforcing the appellate court’s judgment while awaiting the apex court’s decision.

However, in its unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal agreed that the application had merit and granted the injunction.

Justice Abang stated, “The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice.”

The ruling ordered that all parties must maintain the “status quo ante bellum,” preserving the situation as it was before the Federal High Court’s judgment on June 13, 2024.

Continue Reading

metro

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

Published

8 hours ago

on

March 14, 2025

By

CSP Omolola Odutola

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

The Police Command in Ogun State has launched an investigation into the death of a 25-year-old man, Toye Dominic, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree in a forest near Alagbodagbo Village, Ijebu Igbo.

In a statement released on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and said the body was found around 4:30 p.m.

According to Odutola, a local hunter, Kareem Olawalose, came across the scene while on a hunting trip and promptly reported the discovery to the Ijebu Igbo Divisional Police Headquarters.

After spotting the body, Olawalose sought assistance from a nearby village, where he met the deceased’s elder brother, Joseph Dominic.

READ ALSO:

The brother disclosed that Toye had left for the farm earlier in the day but failed to return, prompting a search by concerned family members.

“Policemen and villagers on arrival at the scene, observed that the deceased had set aside his farm tools before proceeding further into the forest, where he was found hanging from a tree.“No suicide note was found, and family members expressed shock and disbelief over the incident,” Odutola said.

She added that officers documented the scene with photographs, and the body was taken to General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, for further examination.
Odutola assured the public that the police would carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine the events leading to the tragedy.

She also encouraged community members to stay alert and support people who might be experiencing emotional distress, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and timely intervention.

 

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

Continue Reading

metro

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

Published

8 hours ago

on

March 14, 2025

By

Former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

The Kwara State High Court has fixed April 10 and 11 for the continuation of the trial of former governor AbdulFatah Ahmed and his finance commissioner, Demola Banu, over the alleged diversion of 5.78 billion naira from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the two officials, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Testifying in court, Engineer Abdulsalam Olanrewaju, a former project manager at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), revealed that despite the state paying counterpart funds in 2014 and 2015, no contracts were awarded.

READ ALSO:

He stated that while the 2013 contractors were eventually paid after protesting delays, funds meant for subsequent projects remained unused.

During cross-examination, Olanrewaju clarified that signatories to the SUBEB account were the accountant, permanent secretary, and executive chairman of the board.

Earlier, a second witness, Dr. Musa Dasuki, emphasized that matching grants from UBEC and SUBEB are strictly meant for school infrastructure and cannot be diverted for other purposes.

 

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

Continue Reading

Trending