Anambra Election: Major Police Shake-up As IGP Baba Deploys Egbunike To Tackle IPOB Threat

 

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Usman Baba, has announced the overhauling of police operations in Anambra ahead of next week's governorship election.

 

This was made known in a statement on Tuesday, signed by Force spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba.

 

According to the statement, the overhauling includes the deployment of selected seasoned Strategic Commanders from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above to Anambra State for effective supervision of security personnel and operations in the Elections.

 

IGP Baba noted that Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Joseph Egbunike has been deployed to Anambra State as the Coordinator of the security component for the Elections.

“DIG Egbunike is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing 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,” the statement said.

 

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 (5) Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), fourteen (14) Commissioners of Police (CPs), thirty-one (31) Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and forty-eight (48) Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).

 

The Senior Officers are to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three (3) Senatorial Districts, twenty-one (21) Local Government Areas and the 5720 polling units in Anambra State.

 

The police boss reassured Nigerians that the Force is adequately prepared for the Gubernatorial Elections in Anambra State come November 6th, 2021.

 

He reiterates that the Force will do everything within its powers to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC personnel and equipment, accredited observers and other key players in Anambra State.

 

IGP Baba urged citizens in Anambra State to come out en masse and exercise their franchise as adequate security has been emplaced to protect them before, during and after the elections.

 

This online newspaper reports that fears have mounted over moves by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to scuttle the guber election.

 

As the election draws nearer, the pro-Biafra group had declared a sit-at-home over the continued detention of it’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.