Lagos – Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2 Command, Mr
Joseph Mbu, said any persons found involved in election violence in Ogun
and Lagos States would be made to face the wrath of the law.
Mbu issued the warning after a meeting with Commissioners of Police (CP)
and their Deputies (DCP) under his command at Zone 2 headquarters, Onikan,
Lagos, on Tuesday.
The AIG said the zone was well prepared for the forthcoming general
elections, warning thugs and their sponsors against fueling any violence.
“Anybody found with dangerous weapon – firearm, cutlass, axe or anything
that can cause injury to a person, will be demobilised and such weapons
forcefully recover from them.
“I know that thugs are getting ready and planning to snatch ballot boxes
or card readers; it is a very serious offence and whoever tries it will
meet his waterloo. The police will repel whoever attempts to do that.
“Any political thugs or group financed for the purpose of election
violence should re-think because we are not going to take it lightly with
such people.
We will not spare them and their sponsors’’, Mbu warned.
Mbu said the zone had enough manpower to prosecute the elections,
stressing that they were prepared to protect lives and property before,
during and after the exercise.
Mbu explained that the meeting was to look into their preparation with a
view to sharing more information on the best way to provide security for
Ogun and Lagos states.
He said apart from police, the Department of State Service, National
Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria
Customs Service, will also provide security for the states.
Mbu appealed to residents of the zone to go out and vote without any fear
of intimidation, stressing that there were enough security men to police
all areas.
He warned politicians against inciting their followers against others,
stressing that no candidate would be allowed to use siren, arms and guards
to polling booths on election days.
He also appealed to traditional rulers and clerics to talk to their
subjects to eschew violence, stressing that all the known black spots for
election violence had been taken care of.
He said it was the voters’ choice to wait or leave after casting their
ballot as long as they maintained peace.
Mbu warned that except those accredited to move around to monitor, no
other person or group would be permitted to move anywhere during the
elections.
He called on the media to consider national security and peace above other
things, and to cross check information before publishing.
The representatives came from Lagos, Ogun, Railway, Port Authority,
Airport, Special Fraud Unit, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Marine,
Medical and Cooperatives. (NAN)
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