The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Mr. Garba Umar, has sent a stern warning to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to forget about disrupting the governorship poll scheduled for November 18 in the state.
Umar said IPOB had no power to stop the poll, adding that the police would do its best to ensure that the exercise is peaceful.
The police boss, who spoke with our correspondent in an interview on Saturday, maintained that no group should stop the people of the state from choosing their leader.
He said, “The election has been fixed by the constitutionally recognised electoral body. Nobody can stop it. We have the capacity to provide a peaceful atmosphere in Anambra State for that election.
“I have not heard from IPOB that it would stop the election, apart from what was published in the media. But that is for the media. Nobody or group can issue such a threat and succeed. As law enforcement officers, we have the capacity to subdue such a threat.
“The people of the state have the right to partake in periodic elections to choose their leaders; nobody or group can stop them from exercising such a right. We can’t allow it. We are fully on the ground and we can suppress such threat.”
Umar said the police in the state were consulting with relevant stakeholders to ensure a peaceful poll.
Meanwhile, the command on Saturday paraded crime suspects, including a vigilante who allegedly buried someone in a shallow grave.
Addressing journalists while parading the suspects, Umar, who assumed duties about a week ago, said his administration would do its best to curb crime in the state.
He said, “On the night of June 22, 2017, the suspect, while on duty as a security guard, on the premises of a distributor located along Oko Road, Ekwulobia in Aguata LGA, killed a person yet to be identified.
“The suspect buried the corpse in a shallow grave within the premises. He failed to report the incident to anyone, including his employer and co-workers.
“On June 27, 2017 at about 23:00 hrs, following intelligence report, police detectives arrested two suspects who broke into Union Bank, Nkpor, and attempted to break into the strong room of the bank. The arrested suspects are: Michael Nwokedi, 18, from Ogbedibia village, Onitsha and one Praise Okoli, 18, from Awomama Imo State.”
Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
