Anambra police command has exonerated the local security operatives otherwise known as vigilante services from participating in the State House of Assembly elections scheduled to hold on 18th march 2023.
Commissioner of Police Echeng Echeng through the AIG Election for Anambra State, Aderemi Adeoye disclosed this to newsmen during a press briefing held at the police headquarters on Friday, 17th.
Adeoye while speaking on police preparations and interservice cooperation deployments involving all the service commanders Including the armed forces and the para military services said plans have been concluded to coordinate and deploy operational strategy, Intelligence sharing towards providing a safe environment for the people of Anambra state to exercise their franchise, in an environment that promotes liberty.
The AIG election boss said “we want to state, unequivocality that Non state actors, Vigilante groups of whatever description or name called are excluded from participating in any manner, in the process of this election”.
“Vigilante groups are therefore warned, not to attempt to get involved in this electoral process either by way of intimidating the electorates or supporting candidates or wilding weapons, or doing anything that may contravane the electoral act. The weight of the law will be brought down on them”.
“We want to assure the people of Anambra states that adequate arrangement has been made, to ensure their safety and to ensure, they can excecise their franchise without fear. We want to assure them of their safety before, during and even after the election”.
I want to seize this opportunity to inform you that the inspector general of police has directed restriction of movements nationwide from 12 midnight today till 6 PM tomorrow election day.
Only security vehicles, and vehicles involved in provision of essential services, are allowed on the roads. For avoidance of doubt, anyone breaking this directive, will have his or her vehicle impounded, until after the elections.
“These directives has been passed down the line to the field commanders to implement and it will be strictly implemented”.
However, Emergency Situations will be an exception. For example, if a woman is in Labour about to deliver and has to be taken to the hospital such is an exception .And if there are other humanitarian issues that warrants relaxing the directive, it will be done in service to humanity, Other than everyone is expected to comply with this directive”.
“We are partners in progress both with you members of Fourth Estate of the Realm, as well as with the electorates to promote, the frontiers of Freedom and liberty, so that our democracy can grow, triumph and prosper. This is the substance of the press briefing I have been directed to make”, he added.
The AIG further stressed that through the press “we want to appeal to the electorate and general public to cooperate with security agents who are going to be involved in this exercise across the states. We convert the cooperation of the public in providing intelligence and information on happenings in their various localities”.
“The Police has provided telephone lines by which members of the public can get across to us, we assure them of prompt response, we assure the public of our neutrality and professionalism as directed by the inspector general of police to ensure this exercise ends in success”, he disclosed
