HEAVILY armed troops of the Nigerian Army and men of the Nigerian Police Force are patrolling the streets of Awka and other parts of Anambra State ahead of the November 6 governorship election.
The ICIR observed that armed security agents were positioned in strategic locations in different parts of the south-eastern state.
The governorship poll is holding amid threats posed by pro-Biafra separatists who have declared an intention to stop the Nigerian government from conducting elections in territories of the defunct Republic of Biafra.
A pro-Biafra group the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has threatened to lock down Anambra and other parts of the South-East by ordering a sit-at-home for six days – including the day of the election – if its detained leader Nnamdi Kanu is not released.
It is unlikely that the Nigerian government will release Kanu, and there are concerns that the secessionists may attempt to disrupt the election by attacking voters and electoral officials.
The Nigerian government has vowed to go ahead with the election with President Muhammadu Buhari ordering heads of the country’s security agencies to ensure the success of the poll at all costs.
The ICIR learnt that the strategy adopted by Nigeria’s military and Police authorities towards ensuring the success of the election included deployment of an ‘overwhelming’ number of heavily armed security personnel in Anambra State.
The Nigerian Police said they had deployed over 34,000 officers for the poll.
