The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has ordered a major overhauling of the security landscape in Anambra State ahead of the Gubernatorial Elections scheduled for next week Saturday.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Force spokesperson, 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.

The IGP noted that Deputy Inspector General of Police, 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.

“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 IGP reassures the nation 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.”

“The IGP calls on 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.”

The development comes as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) issued threats that the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State would not hold if its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was not released before then.

IPOB said the election would not hold if its Kanu was not released unconditionally by November 4.

Kanu has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) after he was renditioned from Kenya to Nigeria by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

The group had also said there would be a seven-day lockdown of the South-East Zone, called sit-at-home protest.

It had also warned residents of the zone against flouting the impending sit-at-home directive.

[SR]