From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Police command has commenced the deployment of military, police and other security operatives to their various areas of assignment in readiness for Saturday’s presidential and senatorial elections.
The security operatives totalling 17,40, have also been issued with their accreditation tags for their electoral duties.
The security operatives comprises men of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy Nigerian Air Force, Police, Civil Defence, Customs, Immigration, Correctional Service, VIO,FRSC, FFS amongst other security agencies.
Addressing the personnel at the Eagle Square, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Aisha Abubakar, whonis also in charge of security for the elections in the FCT, charged the personnel to be partisan and dedicated to their duties of enauring a peacful process.
She said already some of the personnel had been deployed earlier as an advance team to keep security and protect sensitive election materials.
The AIG, who later briefed journalists, said the security operatives would be deployed to all the area councils the poling units to ensure that the process is secured, safe and ready for the elections.
She said “Before now, we have deployed other operatives, this is not the actual number of personnel we are deploying for thw elections.
” sensitive materials have started going out so we have enough men on ground to ensure that the elections are peaceful.
On the welfare of the men, she said “We have provided all that they would need for the exercise and as you can see that their morale is very high.
On her expectations od the elections, the AIG, said “We should expect a very safe, a very credible election and also a good conduct from our policemen who have been well briefed well trained, we have done a lot of capacity building, the IGP, has been very focused at all levels at the operational, strategic and management level, he has done a lot of training and capacity building to prepare officers and men for this elections.
She said security operatives would be deployed to very difficult areas no matter the terrain.
She said “we have our men deployed in every part of this country for this election even if the area is not motorable we have our mounted troops that use horses to access those areas so we have policemen in every area of this country.
“I can assure you of a peaceful and crisis free elections on Saturday”.