Ahead of the September 21 local elections in Enugu State, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered the deployment of police personnel and operational resources of the state command for a free and fair election.
The command also announced restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day, except for those providing medical and fire services.
The CP listed media practitioners, electoral officials and accredited observers among those exempted, as reflected in a statement by the state's Police Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.
According to the statement, “Armed security agents on VIP protection duty have also been banned from escorting VIPs to the polls. CP Kanayo stresses that the management of election security will be jointly executed by all security agencies in the state, warning that any form of electoral violence will not be tolerated before, during and after the elections.”
The CP warned political parties and their supporters to behave in an orderly manner and in accordance with the electoral guidelines provided by ENSIEC.
He also warned “unrepentant criminal elements who want to foment trouble during the elections to stay away as the security forces are prepared to deal decisively with such criminals and their activities.”
The CP also warned parents and guardians to discourage their children and wards from being used as thugs to disrupt the elections as anyone caught would face the full weight of the law.
