March 9 Polls: We’re prepared for troublemakers, Ebonyi CP warns

By Oginyi Ruth

The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Awosola Awotinde, on Thursday said his men were ready to deal severely with anyone who is bent on causing trouble during March Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections in the state.

Awotinde also disclosed that the command has uncovered about four flashpoints for violence during the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections and was prepared to deal with the situation squarely during the coming polls.

Addressing journalists on Thursday at the command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the state capital, the police added the command had made adequate security on ground for the elections.

The CP said security has been beefed up in those areas to forestall possible outbreak of violence in the indentified flashpoints ahead of the elections.

Awotinde warned hoodlums to desist from fomenting troubles during the polls as the command would not take it lightly with anyone caught breaching the hard-earned peace in the state.

“We the police, in conjunction with other security agencies, are ready as usual to provide adequate security for them before, during, and after the election. People should go and exercise their franchise that day.

“I am using this opportunity to warn troublemakers to desist from it or relocate because they are not going to find it easy as we have been dealing with them already, we will continue to deal with them.

“We also want to inform the general public that if there is any breach of the peace they should call the numbers we have already made available to them for quick response.

“We have join operation room with the military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and others. They will be on throughout the elections. They have about two patrol teams that will respond to distress calls throughout the election”, he said.