By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City – Security agencies in Edo State have reaffirmed their readiness to protect lives and property during and after Saturday February 23, 2019 general elections across the state.
The agencies gave the assurance after a combined Operation Show of Force in Benin City on Friday.
Edo State Police Command led by the Commissioner of Police deployed for the conduct of the Saturday’s elections, CP DanMallam Mohammed convened the operation to display security alertness for the excercise.
The warning exercise which started from the state police command headquarters at about 11 a.m also featured the Nigeria army, Navy, Air force, Department of State Service (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Immigration, the Nigeria Prisons.
Also in the operation were the state owned security outfit codenamed OPERATION WABAIZIGAN and the Federal Road Safety Corps all of whom paraded major roads in the state capital in Amour Personal Carrier (APC), patrol vans, just as the City experienced arriel patrol of Police helicopter during the show.
Some of the roads paraded were Sapele, Erediawu, Sakponba, MM Way, Ikpoba Slope, Ramat park, Aduwawa, Upper Mission Extension, New Lagos and Akpakpava.
Addressing journalists during a stopover at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) main gate, the Public Relations Officer for Edo Police Command DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said the exercise was aimed at reassuring Edo people that security agencies are battle ready for any unforseen circumstances before, during and after the polls.
DSP Chidi disclosed that adequate security of the state waterways have also been perfected as the command had not any area of granted in its security strategies for the elections.
“We are all moving in line with the directive to every areas where the elections will be taking place.
“The basis for this is to let the general public know that security agencies are on red alert and working in unison to show preparedness and build confidence in members of the public”. He stated.
He however expressed the CP’s appreciations to other sister security agencies for the synergy within them in the state.
