The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba on today said a total of 34,587 personnel would be deployed for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, pledging that the high command was prepared to ensure violence free election in the state.
The IGP also warned miscreants and political gladiators who would want to adopt undemocratic and illegal means to achieve their aspirations to bury such thoughts and to stay away from the state in their own interest.
The IGP disclosed this in Abuja while addressing Commissioners of Police (CPs) and above.
According to him, the deployment will consist of conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force, the Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Forces, Explosive Ordinance Unit, Force Intelligence Bureau, INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit, and the medical team respectively.
He added that the deployment would also include three helicopters for aerial surveillance as well as detachments of Marine Police operatives to ensure a safe, secure, and credible electoral process in the same.
According to him, the police have also emplaced adequate forward and reverse logistics arrangements for a seamless police operation in the state.
He noted that the deployment followed the outcome of the election security threat analysis conducted by the Force Intelligence Bureau ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state.
According to him, “based on the outcome of the analysis, we have developed a strategic election security operation plan, which will involve the mobilisation of 34,587 police personnel to the state.
“Drawing on our previous election security operations, we have also emplaced adequate forward and reverse logistics arrangements for a seamless police operation and have also made requisite arrangement to address the welfare needs of all personnel being deployed for the operation.
“Let me use this opportunity to assure all citizens and stakeholders, including the International Community of our determination to work with other security agencies to stabilise the prevailing situation in Anambra State ahead of the election.
“The idea is to create a conducive and enabling environment that will guarantee peaceful conduct of the election, we are also committed to partnering with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the dictates of the electoral act to deliver a credible election in Anambra State.