Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Amid threats by some unpatriotic elements to stop elections in the South-East geopolitical zone during the forthcoming polls, security agencies, Saturday, embarked on ‘Operation Show of Force Joint Patrol’ around senatorial districts in Abia State, to re-assure residents of their safety and protection.
Commissioner of Police, Abia State, Mustapha Mohammed Bala, who addressed newsmen during the patrol, said water-tight security arrangements had been put in place to ensure that the polls were hitch-free in the state.
He said that security agencies in the state would stop at nothing in ensuring the protection of lives and property before, during and after the elections.
The Police boss who was flanked by the Commander, 14 Brigade Nigeria Army, Ohafia, Brigadier General Adegoke Adetuyi; and heads of other agencies, ordered hoodlums plotting to disrupt the elections to quickly vacate the state.
According to him, anybody attempting to prevent the elections from holding in any part of Abia will have it hot.
CP Bala warned that anybody caught fomenting trouble during the polls would regret such action.
“My advice to hoodlums is to relocate from Abia because the state will be too hot for them. Those who want to foment troubles during the election should leave now because we won’t allow them.
“We are ready for the elections and we have planned properly to ensure the security of lives and property of residents.
“Logistically we are ready, and we are combat ready. That’s why we are on this confidence-building patrol to reassure residents of their protection.”
The CP urged residents to disregard the purported sit-at-home order in the South-East issued by a certain self-acclaimed freedom fighter, Simon Ekpa, based in Finland, saying such a senseless order serves no good purpose.
He noted that Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other key stakeholder in the zone had already renounced the injurious order, hence, people should discountenance it.
The CP argued that it was a violation of the law to stop people from exercising their rights to participate in elections, while warning those behind the said order to retrace their steps.
He, however, said that security agencies were not taking anything for granted, assuring that adequate counter measure had been put in place in the eventuality of any ugly scenario.
The CP identified Umunneochi Local Government Area as a flash point being a border area with many states but hinted that special security arrangement had been made to ensure a successful election in the area.
Brigadier Gen. Adetuyi, said that although Abia was relatively peaceful, nothing would be left to chances.
Adetuyi said security agencies in the state were collaborating to ensure there were no security issues during, before and after the elections.
“While Abia State is observed to be relatively calm, largely due to many effective operations by the various security agencies, the security situation remains unpredictable.”
The Brigade Commander condemned the threats by some unpatriotic elements to disrupt the election in the South-East.
He said the threats had presented “a real challenge that requires aggressive posture through precursor operations in order to neutralise it.”
“This informs the call for the conduct of joint show of force march by all security agencies in the SE geopolitical zone, including Abia State, as part of the plans and preparations for the successful conduct of the election.
“This is necessary to dominate and be seen to dominate the entire state in the days leading to the elections,” he said.
Other security agencies that participated in the show of force patrol included the Department of State Services, DSS; Immigration, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCD; National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; and the Road Safety.
Meanwhile, residents were hailing the convoy of the joint patrol team as it drove through major streets in Umuahia and its environs.
