Elections: Oyo State Security Agencies urges residents to remain calm

The security agencies in Oyo State on Wednesday urged residents to remain calm as the Saturday 25 February elections draw near.

The agencies including, the Nigerian Police, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), drove around major parts of the city and other parts of the state in a convoy of over 100 security patrol vehicles.

Other agencies include the Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps, Oyo State Fire Service, Amotekun Corps and the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA).

Addressing journalists at the 81 Battalion Barracks of the Nigerian Army, after the show of force that lasted over five hours, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, Fatai Owoseni said all the security agencies in the state had a culture of working together to ensure that lives and property were well secured, even as the elections draw near.

Owoseni stated:“About a hundred vehicles on the road, not just within Ibadan, they went as far as Oyo Town and this is to demonstrate that it is not just that we are ready for this election, we are also ready to make sure that elements that want to take advantage of the election to perpetrate other crimes will not be given any chance at all.”

“We have mentioned to you before this is the third or the fourth show of force that will be carried out and a road match. But today’s own is far more elaborate than the one we have been doing and we have said that in Oyo State what we have hinged our preparation on is proactiveness,” he explained.

Owoseni applauded the unique arrangement operating in Oyo State whereby all the agencies work together by initially meeting once in a month, later once every week and are also ready to meet twice a week to review the activities of the agencies, so as to be proactive and be ahead of the security situation in the state.

He urged all residents to abide by the ‘no movement’ order that would be strictly enforced across the state on election days, saying those who want to foment trouble would meet their match.

“We also use the opportunity to tell parents and guardians to caution their wards not to be used for any untoward activities. For those that are using social media to cause trouble as well, there are means with which they can be caught, because there are ways the criminal elements can incite violence and cause trouble.”

He saluted the peace-loving people for being law-abiding citizens, appealing to them to exercise their franchise peacefully and not listen to people who want to use the opportunity to fan the embers of disunity or incite violence.

Speaking earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Muhammed Usman, who was represented by Brigadier General Kingsley Nwoko, said the security operatives were well prepared for the elections and urged citizens to go about their lawful businesses.

Nwoko said: “Today we went on what we call a ‘Show of Force’ . This is one of the biggest shows of force I have seen in my career. Almost a hundred vehicles are just to demonstrate the importance we have attached to this forthcoming election.

“Like I tell those people who want to cause trouble, they should stay away from this election because we are going to deal with them, we will smoke them out wherever they are and we will deal with them.”

He explained that the Nigerian Army had been given a code of conduct and rules of engagement for its personnel for the election, assigned by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, affirming that the Army was completely neutral and not supporting any political party but would ensure that the atmosphere is conducive for peaceful elections.

PIAK