Ebonyi police uncover plot to disrupt guber election

The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi state, Maigari Dikko, has said that there are plots by some politicians to disrupt Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly election in the state.

The command said it would be deploying over 4,500 police officers to provide security across the state during the polls.

Mr. Dikko, made the disclosure in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Friday while briefing reporters on the level of preparedness of the command towards ensuring a hitch-free polls.

“Intelligence reports at the disposal of the police command also indicates that politicians are procuring the services of all shades of characters to disrupt the forthcoming elections and assist them achieve their political ambitions,” he reiterated.

“The result of these self-help efforts has in recent times led to some incidents of grievous harm, arson, as well as wilful and malicious damage to properties of innocent citizens and perceived political opponents who are all Ebonyians,” he said.

Mr. Dikko said “necessary arrangements have been put in place, in terms of logistics/equipment, and materials distributed to their designated areas”.

“State police command in conjunction with other security agencies have taken into consideration issues of security concerns that arose during the last presidential/National Assembly election, as well as the concerns of the political parties and their contestants, and has put measures and strategies in place to address such complaints,” he said.

Mr. Dikko said that security operatives drawn from the Nigerian army and other para-military forces have been evenly redeployed to all nooks and crannies of the three senatorial zones in the state.

He appealed to the politicians for restraint and caution “particularly with regards to public utterances and statements in both the print and electronic media, that can have far reaching negative impact on the relative peace being enjoyed in the state”.

Mr. Dikko asked all candidates to stick to the peace accord which they signed.

The police boss said that joint patrol teams comprising the Police, the Army , Directorate of security services and the National Security and Civil Defense Corps will be prowling all nooks and crannies of the state to enforce the no-movement of vehicle order.