Akwa Ibom State Police Command Wednesday issued a shoot-at-sight order on anybody with unauthorized arms during December 2 local government elections especially thugs, warning politicians and political office holders in the state to advise their aides accordingly.
In addition, the command has deployed a police helicopter for aerial surveillance and 15, 000 policemen to provide security at the December 2, 2017 local government elections in Akwa Ibom State.
DSP Bala Elkana, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), while interacting with newsmen in Uyo, said at least two conventional policemen will be within each of the polling unit, the Special Armed Force will be on patrol and strategic areas for distress calls.
“We also have policemen that will escort the sensitive election materials and provide security to electoral officials. We also have aerial surveillance of police helicopter”, he explained.
DSP Elkana added that the marine policemen have also been reinforced with support from the Nigerian Navy to protect the water ways and the coastal communities of the state.
The PPRO stressed that the State Police Command is taking the election seriously hence the adequate arrangements made to cover the pre-election, election and post-election issues and reactions.
He posited that the anti-riot policemen have been well positioned to take care of any reaction from the elections, adding that already some anti-riot police squads outside the state have arrived to support mobile policemen on ground.
Particularly, the image maker of the state police command said security has been beefed up in special focus areas like Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo local government areas and other flash points in the State.
“The Police Command is fully prepared to secure the electoral process completely. Politicians have been warned especially political office holders not to go to the polling units with their armed details.
“Details that follow their principals to the polling units with arms will be tried and dismissed as it happened in Rivers State.
“Parents are also advised to monitor the movement of their children and wards especially those one likely to be used as political thugs because we are also well prepared for them.
“Anybody that carries arms to the voting centre, will be a victim of the shoot-at-sight order. If you are armed, you are no longer a civilian. The order is from the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zubairu Muazu. He has mandated all the tactical units to take up anyone who comes with arms to disrupt the electoral process.
“So anybody who thinks he has fire arms somewhere and wants to come as political thug should get the warning clearly. Nobody should accuse the police of killing anybody who is armed,” Elkana declared.
