(DDM) – Security arrangements ahead of the Anambra governorship election have entered their final phase as police personnel across the state declare readiness to ensure a peaceful poll.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the Anambra State Police Command has successfully completed its statewide election security and advocacy tour, led by Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, alongside his top operational commanders.
The tour covered all Area Commands and Divisional Headquarters, where officers received final directives on crowd control, intelligence coordination, and rapid response deployment.
Commissioner Orutugu, addressing personnel during the last leg of the tour, affirmed that the command is fully fortified and operationally ready to maintain law and order before, during, and after the election.
He stated that the command has integrated tactical teams, intelligence units, and community policing networks to preempt any form of disturbance or electoral violence.
According to Orutugu, security agencies, including the Army, NSCDC, DSS, and Federal Road Safety Corps, are also collaborating through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to ensure seamless operations statewide.
He emphasized that logistics and communication systems have been tested, assuring the public that officers on election duty have been adequately briefed on professionalism and impartiality.
The police commissioner also visited flashpoint areas in Onitsha, Nnewi, Ihiala, and Awka, where local units conducted simulation drills in crowd control, escort management, and ballot security.
Orutugu urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with law enforcement agents, and report any suspicious activity through dedicated hotlines already circulated by the command.
He warned political thugs and hired disruptors that the command’s intelligence units were already tracking movements and that anyone attempting to cause chaos would be arrested and prosecuted.
Police personnel deployed to Anambra have been drawn from various specialized departments, including the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, Counter-Terrorism squad, and Rapid Response Team (RRT).
The command also confirmed that female officers have been deployed to handle sensitive assignments involving women and vulnerable groups at polling centres.
Commissioner Orutugu reaffirmed that the ultimate goal of the police deployment is to ensure a credible, safe, and transparent electoral process in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
He assured that officers will act within the confines of the law, protect lives and property, and safeguard both electoral materials and voters across all twenty-one local government areas of the state.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has continued its logistics movement, while civil society observers have commended the synergy among security agencies ahead of the poll.
As the election day draws closer, Anambra residents are hopeful that the fortified security presence will help guarantee peaceful participation and credible results.
