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Polls: Rivers Police Deploy 15,544 Personnel …Declare State Of Emergency On East-West Road
Ahead of tomorrow’s Governorship and state House of Assembly Elections, the Rivers State Police Command says it has deployed 15,544 officers and men that will man the 319 wards as well as 4,432 electoral units across the state during the election.
The deployed officers and men will complement the 2,000 other sister security agencies bringing the total number to 17,000 security personnel that will be participating in the election to ensure free and fair elections in the state.
The police also announced a total restriction of movement of persons and vehicles on both land and waterways between the hours of 12midnight, today to 6pm on Saturday.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Usman Belel stated this while briefing journalists at command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday, on the readiness of the command and other security agencies for the forthcoming elections across the state.
Belel said all entry and exit points within and outside the state would be closed within the period of the elections, adding that movements in and out of the state are barred until the elections are over.
“We are going to close both sides of Waterlines to GRA Junction on the Port Harcourt/Aba Expressway to all road users on both lanes from 12midnight Friday, till further notice, and advise the public to adhere as there would be diversion of movement in the affected area.”
He used the medium to announce that very important personalities (VIPs )and politicians were barred from going to any voting centre with their security details or orderlies even as he warned them to desist from moving from one place to another on Election Day as provided in the Electoral Act.
“Movement is strictly restricted from places of abode to the voting centres and back. No canopies should be erected close to any polling unit by food vendors or any commercial activities carried out close to any polling unit. The police and other security agencies will be moving round to ensure that there is compliance to this order and to arrest and prosecute violators”, he added.
The state commissioner of police averred that the state would outlive the elections, adding that there will be a radical departure from the past elections, usually characterized by violence.
He promised that the police would be neutral, apolitical, and professional to provide level playing field for all the political parties and the electorate to exercise their franchise.
“We promise to do everything humanly possible to entrench and bequeath to the state, election that will be free, fair, credible and devoid of violence,” he stated.
Following the increasing wave of crimes and criminalities along the East-West Road, the Rivers State Police Command says it has declared a state of emergency on the Rumuji, Elele, Ndele, Ahoada axis of the road.
The spokesperson of the state Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, disclosed this in a telephone interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Omoni said the gesture was to curtail the excesses of kidnappers, robbers and other criminal elements operating within the affected axis of the road, which according to him, has made life unbearable for the users of the road in recent times.
He disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel has directed the immediate deployment of tactical team to the affected places with a view to arresting the perpetrators of the crime as well as to ensure that the users of the road travel without any form of challenge or risk of kidnapped, among others.
According to him, the emergency order has been in place for more than a month, adding that huge successes have been recorded as cases of kidnapping and vehicle snatching have been minimized.
Akujobi Amadi
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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