Abakaliki – The Nigerian Police Force has warned politicians in Ebonyi against resorting to thuggery and violence during the 2019 general elections saying that the police will deal decisively with culprits.
Mr Samuel Ogunjemilusi, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6 gave the warning in Abakaliki on Tuesday while on a familiarisation tour of the command in the state.
“We also like to warn that there will be nothing like ‘Federal Might’ usage in the state during the election as the police would remain neutral during the elections.
“Our duty is to provide adequate security during the elections and we solicit for the cooperation of all to make the exercise peaceful as is being witnessed presently in the state,” he said.
He called on the electorate to use their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) to elect candidates of their choices during the election, noting that it was the only power they had to elect credible candidates.
“We will tolerate cases where people refuse to campaign or collect their PVCs to vote but choose to hire thugs and resort to violence during the elections,” he said.
The AIG commended the state government for the relative peace in the state rating it as the `most peaceful’ in the force’s zone comprising Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
“There is no society without incidences of crime but in Ebonyi, it is at the barest minimum and the atmosphere is generally peaceful.
“We are talking about a crime rate level where people would go about their businesses without fear and that is the level we are propagating.
“That is the level we have witnessed in Ebonyi under the leadership of the state’s Police Commissioner, Musa Kimo aided by vast and experienced officers in his management team,” he said.
He commended officers of the command for their hard work and cooperation with the police commissioner and pledged that their welfare would always be a priority to the force.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Musa Kimo thanked the AIG for the visit and assured him that the command would intensify efforts in maintaining the high ratings it had attracted.
“We assure you that we will redouble our efforts in ensuring that criminals are kept at bay in the state and guarantee a peaceful atmosphere especially during the 2019 elections.
“The officers in the command have cooperated with me in ensuring the successes we have recorded and I urge them to maintain the standard for effective policing in the state,” he said.
Mr Peter Oba, the state Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) also thanked the AIG for the visit and assured of their avid support to drastically reduce crime in the state.
Oba, represented by a member of the committee, Chief Chizoba Cyprian, said that it realised that ensuring the security of lives and property did not lie with security agencies alone.
Alhaji Danjuma Gambo, Leader of the Hausa Community in the state also assured the AIG of the community’s cooperation in maintaining the peace presently recorded in the state. (NAN)