Police Helicopter To Monitor Anambra Polls ’Morrow

The Nigerian Police have concluded arrangements to deploy helicopters to Anambra state as part of measures to ensure free and fair governorship election in the state tomorrow, even as no fewer than 23,000 policemen including those on ground have been posted to the area. 

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ogbonnaya Onovo, who disclosed this  Tuesday while speaking with newsmen at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu said he was on his way to Anambra State to talk with his men on the best way to ensure crisis- free elections in the state.

He, therefore, used the forum to warn  thugs  and other disgruntled elements in the state  nursing the intention of snatching ballot boxes to have a rethink or face the consequences of their nefarious act, pointing out that the police were battle ready to provide adequate security to the electorate and the contestants.

“I am on my way to Anambra state to talk to my men who will perform election duties on Saturday. We have put in place measures to identify our own policemen who will be on election duty. These men will wear tags identifying them. Any thug that shows up, we will pick him up immediately and he will be prosecuted thereafter”, he further vowed.

Continuing, the IGP said: “There is no question of snatching of ballot boxes in Anambra. We will not give room for that. We will be there right on the ground. And if they even try it, it will not be necessary because INEC has already taken  good measures to ensure that if they snatch a ballot box, it will not be of any use.

There is no question of partisanship. We don’t belong to any political party. We are policemen. And ours is to ensure that citizens are not disenfranchised.”

Mr. Onovo made it clear that the police would  maintain security and give every citizen the opportunity to use his/her  voters card, adding that  policemen would be everywhere to check any form of crime  in  the state.

 ”Every nook and cranny of Anambra State will be covered. We have helicopters in the air and of course, our marine section will also be there to monitor the riverine  areas of the state. It is going to be tough for thugs wherever they are found . But I assure you, we are on top”, he further stressed.

He also assured that nobody would be allowed to carry weapons, adding that,” We have taken care of that aspect”

“ We have taken care of that aspect. Nobody is coming out with any weapon. Nobody. Anybody who does that, does it at his own risk. I am going to appeal to all citizens of Anambra State to behave themselves because this is one election we must get right. All those thugs, all those rabble rousers, let them go somewhere else, not Anambra State”,  Mr Onovo equally warned.