Security on Saturday: Police Talks Tough

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Aderanti yesterday unfolded his security plans to curtail election violence in the State. KWASU ALHAMDU and ANYIM JOY NDUDI were at the conference. Photos by TAOFEEK BABAJIDE.

In preparation for the 2015 general elections, a total of 36,204 security personnel drawn from all the security and emergency response agencies have been deployed into Lagos State.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Aderanti disclosed this at a press briefing organised by Lagos State Police Command and heads of other sister agencies in the State. According to the Commissioner of Police, “we have embarked on a show of force on land, sea and air to demonstrate our readiness to confront and contain any irritation that may arise from anywhere. Therefore, we most solemnly pledge to be neutral, non partisan and very firm in all our dealings and operations before, during and after the elections.”
In the area of logistics, 500 patrol vehicles, 100 buses, 100 motorcycles, 7 trucks, 3 Black Maria trucks, 1 luxury bus, 3 Armored Personnel Carriers, APC (one in each Senatorial Zone), 5 gun boats to man the waters and two helicopters for aerial surveillance and patrol.
CP Aderanti also stated that based on the provisions of section 129 of the 2010 electoral act as amended, it is prohibited to do any of the followings in a polling unit or within a distance of 300 metres of the polling unit:
“No person shall on the date of the elections canvass for votes, solicit for the vote of any voter, persuade any voter not to vote for any particular candidate, shout slogans concerning the election, be in possession of any offensive weapon or wear any dress or have any facial or other decoration which in any event is calculated to intimidate voters.
Furthermore, no person is permitted to exhibit, wear or tender any notice, symbol, photograph or party card referring to the election, use any vehicle bearing the colour or symbol of any political party by any means whatsoever, loiter without lawful reason after voting or after being refused to vote, snatch or destroy any election materials and blare siren.
“No person shall within the vicinity of a polling unit or collation centre on the day of which an election is held or convened, hold or attend any public meeting during the hours of poll as may be prescribed by the commission, unless appointed under this act to make official announcement, operate any megaphone, amplifier or public address apparatus, wear or carry any badge, poster, banner, flag or symbol relating to a political party or to the election.”
CP Aderanti also declared that any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for 6 months for every such offence. He added that any person who snatches or destroys any election material shall be liable on conviction to 24 months imprisonment.
The police boss used the occasion to assure Lagosians of their safety and appealed to the people to troop out en mass to vote for candidates of their choice and shun any act of violence. He pointed out that the law on the restriction of movement will take effect from 6 am to 6 pm.
Present at the occasion were, the Brigadier-General Ahmed Sabo, Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ikeja; the Commanding Officer, NNS Beecroft Navy Command T.D. Ikoli; the Commanding Officer, Nigerian Airforce Base, Ikeja, Air Commodore Osayintolu; the State Director Department of State Security Service, Mr. Achu Ben Olayi; the Commandant, Nigerian Civil Defense Corps, ably represented by his Deputy, Deputy Commandant of the Corps, P.E. Mba; the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Lagos State, Mr. Akin Odebiyi, the Controller of Prisons Lagos state, Vincent, Controller Immigration and Customs.
The CP also appealed to distinguished members of the press to be fair and just in the reportage of the developments in the course of these elections. “We all have a role to play to ensure the sanctity and credibility of the process. Sensationalism should be replaced with objectivity, partisanship should be replaced with neutrality. Patriotism should be our guiding compass.
“Together, we shall overcome all the obstacles and deliver a peaceful election.” Let me sound a note of warning to anyone who may be nursing any idea of causing violence in any part of the state to immediately perish such thought as we are able and ready to deal with such persons.