Police warn Biafran group against proposed violence in Anambra

The Nigerian army and the Police command in Anambra state have warned members of the

Nkeiruka Nwode, the Public Relations Officer of Anambra State Police Command, said the IPOB march was of no effect, as the state police command had concluded arrangements for effective policing of the state during the election.

The PRO further asked residents of the state to go out en masse to exercise their civil rights on November 18, 2017 and ignore the threats by the proscribed group.

In the same vein, Jimoh Moshood, warned the IPOB members to steer clear of the state during and after the forthcoming governorship election, in their own interest.

Moshood said the police would deal with IPOB members the way an outlawed group should be dealt with.

“They (IPOB) should steer clear of Anambra because we have deployed enough personnel in the state; any miscreant who misbehaves would have himself to blame as he would be dealt with. IPOB should not test our will or resolve,” Moshood cautioned.

Moshood also said the police were fully on the ground to ensure a hitch-free and violence-free poll, adding that battle-ready operatives including police special forces, anti-riot personnel, and counter-terror squad had been instructed to deal with troublemakers.

ALSO READ: IPOB threatens to kill voters during Anambra governorship election

In the same vein, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Emma Okeh, said the agency would deploy 5,000 personnel, including special forces and regular officers.

“I urge the electorate to come out en masse and vote for the candidates of their choice. It is their election, it is their state and whoever they elect as governor would determine their future,” Okeh said.

He cautioned against disruption of the poll by any group of persons, stressing that the corps would not spare anyone caught violating the law.

IPOB's threat

Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra threatened to kill voters during the governorship election in Anambra State.

According to a report by Punch, barely one week to the state's governorship election, the proscribed group vowed to disrupt the election and threatened voters with death.

It was further reported that members of the group marched around some streets in Onitsha, Anambra State on Friday, November 10, 2017 to announce their intentions.