Anambra poll: Army arrests three ‘IPOB members’ as police deploy 26,000 officers

No fewer than 26,000 police officers have been deployed to Anambra to provide security cover for Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

This was announced in a statement on Tuesday by Mohammed Baba-Busu, a media aide to the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris.

The statement said the IG gave the figure at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka.

It added that the Idris authorised an additional 21,000 police officers to join another 5,000 personnel already stationed in the state.

According to the statement, the deployment is to ensure the conduct of a hitch-free election and guarantee the security of lives and property before, during and after the elections.

Three commissioners of police and assistant inspectors-general were also said to have been deployed to the state ahead of the polls while three helicopters and some gunboats had been deployed for air and water surveillance.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian army says it has apprehended three suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for being in possession and sharing leaflets inscribed: ‘No Election in Anambra’.

Sagir Musa, deputy director, army public relations 82 division, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Onitsha.

Musa said the suspects were arrested by the 144 battalion patrol team at Alaoji flyover, Aba General Area, on November 12.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that those arrested are Chidiebere Nwaona, 35, Nwagbougwu Okeke, 55 and John Nwaogazi, 50 years old.

“The suspects, leaflets and flyers have been handed over to Department of State Services (DSS), Abia Command, for further action,” Musa said.