IMO NOV 11 GUBER POLL: MILITARY ASSURES NEUTRALITY, READS RIOT ACT TO THUGS

 REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

The Armed forces say they are fully equipped to protect the facilities and personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure smooth conduct of this Saturday’s governorship election in Imo State.

The General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army Enugu, Major General Hassan Dada, stated this while addressing soldiers involved in the election at the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Imo State.

He said the soldiers involved in the election had been trained and mobilized to maintain security during and after the election and warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the process would be severely dealt with.

General Dada noted that the military had checked the activities of non-state actors in Imo State in the last four months.

He urged the soldiers, who were drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force to maintain neutrality as anyone caught in any act of misconduct would be sanctioned.

“We are going to cover everywhere, we are going to protect all the INEC officials and we will make sure that nobody’s life is threatened or any property threatened.

“I will also like to sound a note of warning for those that don’t want their lives they should come out and try to make trouble and I am assuring them that they will not go back with their lives,” he cautioned.

General Dada used the forum to inaugurate an election security operation of the military codenamed “Operation Safe Conduct” with a show of force in Owerri and its environs.

The General Officer Commanding 82 Division added that a similar show of force exhibiting the combat readiness of the military was held simultaneously across Imo West and Imo North senatorial districts of the state.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU