Police Warn Politicians To Eschew Violence

The Imo Police Com
mand has warned politicians in the state against acts or utterances capable of causing breakdown of law and order before, during and after the February elections.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Andrew Enwerem, gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Owerri recently.
Enwerem said that the police would apply the full weight of the law on supporters of politicians caught fomenting trouble.
He said that the command had conducted enlightenment workshops for officers and men on their roles before, during and after the elections.
“The leadership of Imo State Police Command has held enlightenment training for its officers and men and the command expects nothing short of responsible conduct from its men.
“The police is not the electoral umpire; the role of police at every political event including the elections is to ensure violence-free meetings,’’ the police spokesman said.
He said that with the conclusion of the political party primaries there was hope that politicians would conduct their campaigns in an orderly manner.
He said that the state had recorded peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations without any incidents.
According to him, reports from the area commands and divisions indicated that the people had very peaceful and memorable celebrations.
“Apart from pockets of family misunderstandings and other minor cases, we did not record any serious criminal cases or violence during the 2014 Christmas and New Year festivities in Imo.
“The fact is largely because of the commitment of security personnel and the good conduct of people of Imo during the period, which the Commissioner of Police is appreciative of,’’ Enwerem said.