BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City, Nigeria – Ahead of next Saturday House of Assembly poll in Edo State, residents have expressed concerns over mounting insecurity and voter apathy.
The concerns mostly stem from the killings and criminal destruction of ballot materials in parts of the state during the February 25 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
At least, two persons were reportedly shot to death and several others sustained bullet injuries when armed political thugs invaded voting centers in Benin City, on that day.
Ballot materials including already thumb printed papers waiting to be counted were damaged during the attacks.
Checks revealed that the thugs operated without a corresponding challenge from the security personnel that were on election duty.
Prior to the election day, security operatives including the Nigeria army, immigration services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and police engaged in Operation Show of Force to demonstrate readiness for the polls.
The spokesman for Edo State Police Command which is the lead agency, SP Chidi Nwabuzor in a chat with journalists during the exercise stated that the essence of the Operation Show of Force was to warn criminal elements that it would not be business as usual.
He went further to urge residents of the state to go out en mass to cast their ballots without any fear of intimidation.
A drive through major roads in the state capital during the Presidential and National Assembly elections revealed limited presence of security personnel when compared to previous election days in the City.
The enforcement of the restriction on vehicular movement which commenced that Saturday from 12am to 6pm was not total during the exercise.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has again reassured residents of the state of safety of their lives and property during and after Saturday’s House of Assembly election.
The command also warned against the violation of electoral laws as violators would be dealt with decisively.
It enjoined residents to go to their voting centers in full compliance with restriction on vehicular movement which starts 12am to 6pm on Saturday, March 11.
SP Chidi Nwabuzor disclosed this in statement Tuesday in Benin City.
