Armed security men will be closer to polling units – CP

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos state says armed security men will be closer to polling units during the governorship and state House of Assembly elections on March 9.

CP Zubairu Muazu, who stated this while briefing journalists on Wednesday said the decision was reached to ensure the violence that characterised the Presidential and National Assembly elections do not repeat itself.

Speaking at the command headquarters, the police boss called on Lagosians not to entertain any fears when they see armed security personnel close to polling units, saying their presence is in the best interest of the electorate.

The state police boss assured the electorates of adequate protection, adding that the armed personnel will swiftly attend to any security breach that may come up during the election.

Muazu said that “areas where we had incidences of violence in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, we are going to have adequate protections in those flash points. We are going to have more patrols in that area and we are going to have armed security personnel closer to the polling units this time.

“Although the electoral law does not allow us to post armed security men at the polling units, this time around, we will try as much as possible to have them at the closest distance to the polling units so that they can move quickly to ensure no election process anywhere is disrupted.

“We know that if we are too close, it may suggest intimidation, so, we will be at a safe distance and those flashpoints we have identified will be properly manned.”

Furthermore, Muazu said men from the Marine Police and the Nigerian Navy will ensure prospective electoral offenders do not untilize the waterways in Lagod.

He said gun boats from the Nigerian Navy and other equipment have been drafted to ensure safety in such areas.