There was palpable panic among residents in some key states of the country on Friday as the Nigerian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance jets began air patrols over perceived fl...
There was palpable panic among residents in some key states of the country on Friday as the Nigerian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance jets began air patrols over perceived flashpoints in the North-East, Kwara, Adamawa and Rivers states.
Some of the indigenes who spoke to one of our correspondents said the stakes were high in the state because the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha, is from the state. The state is also under pressure because the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s political relevance depends on the success of the PDP in the state after the INEC declared him the runner-up in the recent presidential election.
“The ISR will be visible as usual in the North-East axis, South-South, South-West, Kwara and other places that crop up on the election day. Some military trucks were sighted stationed at the Effurun Market along the PTI Road in Uvwie LGA near Warri. As early as 6am on Friday, the military presence in the state drawn from the Navy, Army and the Air Force were reinforced.
Most of the residents who spoke with our correspondents expressed worry over the development, saying that Bayelsa must not be turned into a war zone.In Akwa Ibom State, soldiers, mobile policemen and three commissioners of police have reportedly taken over the state.The state Commissioner of Police in charge of election duties, CP Sani Kaoje, who confirmed the deployment to our correspondent on Friday, said the additional deployment would join forces with over 9210 earlier deployed in the state.
Reacting to the belief by some people that the police command was working for a particular political party, he said, “The police should not be misconstrued to be taking sides with any political party. We remain apolitical and professional in the discharge of our duties. We are committed to free, fair and credible polls. I therefore use this opportunity to call on all eligible voters to come out and exercise their civil responsibility of voting for any candidate of their choice.
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, who did not disclose the number of security men deployed in the state for the election, said there was a slight increase in the number of security men deployed over that of the presidential and National Assembly elections.
Speaking under the auspices of Elders and Leaders of Rivers State, they explained that the plan by the party was to introduce violence to the exercise. “The allegation against the APC is absolutely not true. They are perhaps the ones planning chaos and not the APC,” Finebone stressed. Ugochinyere said, “The homes of the PDP leaders and serving government officials in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta states are being broken into by soldiers.
He said, “The government in power is planning to rig the election at all cost. That is the pressure on our party and other candidates. But our people are ready to protect their votes no matter the intimidation they are subjected to.” “In all the roads leading to Ogoni, Andoni and Opobo, Ikwerre, Kalabari, Ahoada and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, passengers are being searched and any person spotted to belong to the PDP, is brought down, beaten and tortured.”Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday met with the United States Consul-General to Nigeria, John Bray, and the political officer of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Louis Edwards.
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