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In spite of the scary security situation in Anambra state, National Security Adviser, Babagana Moguno, has assured Nigerians that the November 6 election in the South-East state would not be truncated.
Monguno gave the pledge on Tuesday while speaking at the emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security,( ICCES) organised by the Independent Electoral Commission.
Represented by Sanusi Galadima, the NSA disclosed that the federal government was determined to neutralise those with separatist agendas bent on scuttling the democratic process, not only in the southeast but the country.
He further revealed that a joint military operation has equally been unveiled to restore peace in the region.
He said: “As we are all aware the Anambra State Gubernatorial Election, is barely one (1) month away and the security threat posed by violent activities of separatist groups in the South-East region are bent on scuttling the election in the State in furtherance of their separatist agenda. Undoubtedly, this constitutes a clear and present danger to the national democratic process and consolidation.
” I wish to state that ONSA, is working assiduously with relevant security and intelligence agencies towards arresting the foregoing ugly trend and other associated security challenges in the South-East zone and beyond. This determination of the presidency is already been translated into action by the recent joint Military operation code-named “Golden Dawn” in the South-East as well as other security operations across the country. This is in addition to the increasing collaboration between the Federal and South-East Governors towards addressing the underlying socio-economic drivers of insecurity in the region.
“Once again, NSA wish to reiterate the Federal Government commitment for the protection of lives and property of all law-abiding citizens before during and after the elections, while, finally calling on all peace-loving Nigerians of the South-East extraction to join hands with constituted authority to promote peace and development across the region and beyond.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu expressed concern over the coordinated attacks to frustrate the forthcoming election.
He told the representative of the NSA and other security agencies that what was paramount to the Commission in Anambra was security of the safety of voters and Election Day staff, including security officials who have also become the targets of these attacks.
He specifically tasked the heads of security agencies that they have the enormous challenge of securing 21 Local Government Areas and 26,000 officials.
“The Commission is particularly concerned about the safety of voters and Election Day staff, including security officials who have also become the targets of these attacks. The thousands of young Nigerians that we intend to deploy for the election, most of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and university students, need to be reassured of their personal safety. At the same time, deployment for the election will involve the movement of huge consignments of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the 21 Local Government Areas of the State, 326 Wards or Registration Areas and 5,720 Polling Units. That means over 6,000 locations to be protected. If we add that to about 26,000 officials that will be deployed for the election, we begin to appreciate the magnitude of the challenge of securing the Anambra Governorship election which is only thirty-two (32) days from today.
“Perhaps never before in our history has the importance of election security in a Governorship election been this urgent. The Commission is aware that this is by no means an easy task. We appreciate the enormous challenges that the security agencies are presently facing in Anambra State, which entail not only securing the electoral process but also enforcing law and order generally. This is particularly worrisome because the security agencies have also become prime targets of these mindless attacks.”
