2019: Over 700 allege fake policemen flood Anambra as herdsmen threaten election

Nkiru Nwagbo, Awka

Ahead of the 2019 general election in the country, over 700 alleged fake police men have already been stationed at some major flash points in Anambra state. The alleged fake police officers and men are largely political thugs loyal to some National Assembly candidates of major political parties in the state who have been provided with fake police uniforms and ranks with fake name tags for the election. According to the state Chairman of the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Chief Akudo Ezeakudo who made this known to the state Commissioner for Police, Mr Gaba Baba Umar during the stake holders meeting and signing off peace accord by political parties in the state, “Sir under this situation, how do we identify which is the real police man and the one that is fake? Just as we have fake Party agents we also have fake security operatives”. Reacting to the report during an electoral stakeholders meeting and signing of peace Accord in Anambra State, the police Commissioner said “We are not unaware of the plot by some people faking security agents. We are also aware of the antics of some desperate politicians by using the fake security agents. “We have a way of identifying the fake people and only us know how we identify our Officers and men and we will always fish them out. Defending the panic in Anambra state, he said is the heavy presence of the Fulani Herdsmen in Anambra North Senatorial District mostly in Ayamelum and Anambra West local government areas. State Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mr Mattias Ameke lamented that “As I speak now sir, we have heavy presence of the Fulani Herdsmen in Anambra West local government area and part of Ayamelum Local Government Area and they have taken over some of the electoral wards in the area, and the way they are operating, people are afraid of coming out to vote”. The Commissioner who also confirmed the heavy presence of the Fulani Herdsmen said “There are too many of them here in Anambra state and we are driving them away from the state. We have been using choppers to ensure that their presence do not escalate. “We have been able to ensure that they do not take over the communities. “Consequently I want to use this opportunity and warn all political thugs, their sponsors and other misguided elements who want to truncate the electoral process to have a rethink and desist forth with. “The command will not hesitate to take all necessary steps within the ambit of the law to deal decisively with any individual or group under whatever guise and bring them to justice’ The Commissioner assured that the command would maintain absolute neutrality and professionalism in line with internationally acceptable best practices.