By Ifeanyi Okolie

Policemen being briefed at the Command headquarters, Ikeja and Soldiers at work in Mushin

Few hours into the botched National Assembly elections, residents of Lagos witnessed an overwhelming presence of security men in almost allthe nooks and crannies of the state. Electoral materials were despatched to different locations both inside the city and at the outskirts without news of hijack by hoodlums. Ballot boxes were also not snatched from polling units. The electorate went about their businesses peacefully as they were seen casting their votes without harassment or intimidation by political party thugs. A resident of Idi-Oro area in Mushin known for it’s volatility and series of violent clashes between factions of National Union Of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Moshood Balogun, described the atmosphere as “cozy and peaceful”. The middle-aged man told Crime Alert that, “it went peacefully and there was no sign of violence in any part of our area. People went about their voting peacefully as there was no one harassing them into voting. I did not envisage that such a crucial election could go on without being disrupted by hoodlums. A lot of eligible voters were accredited in the polling unit close to my house in Erepko Street and they were waiting to vote. In fact, these people were in high spirit, and determined to choose their representatives.” On the part of the police, they came well prepared for any eventuality as the area was marked as one of the volatile places that should be adequately manned. In fact, an officer of the rank of Commissioner of police was deployed to the area to head the security arraignment. Policemen and military personnel patrolled the streets and suburbs of Mushin. Meanwhile, Mushin was not the only area marked as volatile. Areas like Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Oshodi and Alimosho, had a Commissioner of police as head of the security arraignment. Over 30,000 policemen were deployed into the state while additional supports were provided by the military and other security agencies in the state. In preparation for the 2011 elections, an inter-agency security committee was formed. The committee included other security agencies like, the State Security Service (SSS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Prison Service, the Civil Defense Corps and the Immigrations. And they were all sensitized in series of workshops and conferences towards ensuring there was a watertight security and prevention of breakdown of law and order within the state.

On Friday April 1, 2011, a high powered security meeting was held between the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Yakubu Akali, before his redeployment to Rivers State, the Commander 9 brigade Ikeja Brig-General Mauzo, the Navy and the Air Force at the office at the State Commissioner of Police in Ikeja. CP Akali as the head of the committee, expressed police readiness in delivering the much needed peace during the elections in the state, while his colleagues from the armed forces gave their support with firm assurance of assisting the police in providing internal security at the border, waterways and on the air. The security strategy paid off handsomely. In fact, it was rated above average by security experts who reviewed it later. Roadblocks were mounted by fierce- looking soldiers from the Nigeria Army, along major highways in the state. A portion of the Oshodi/ Apapa expressway was blocked by well armed soldiers who carried out thorough searches on anything at sight with much dignity. They were also there to enforce the no movement order. Other major roads, like Ikorodu, Lagos/ Badary expressway, Agege Motor Road, Awolowo Road etc witnessed the presence of the soldiers. In Kirikiri town, residents were impressed at the number of naval personnel patrolling their streets. One of them, Anayo Osuala told Crime Alert, “They were all armed and battle -ready. They did not however, go close to the polling boots, but they patrolled along the areas to forestall trouble. It was the police and other law enforcement agencies that were at the polling units. I must confess, the security situation was overwhel-ming, everyone was apprehensive and felt the presence of security men”. The riverine communities and the waterways were not left out. The marine police and the navy patrolled and provided security along the waterways. A resident from one of the riverine communities locally known as Aloro told Crime Alert that the no movement order was also enforced on the waterways. “We were sent back when I and my elder brother wanted to cross over to the town to get a woman who was stranded on her way back from a night vigil. A couple of naval patrol boats accosted us and sent us back home. I have never seen something like this before”, he stated. The owner of Cuisine Restaurant, a popular eatery in the town, Ugwuanyi who also described the security situation in the area as ‘watertight’ stated that all hands were seen to be on deck and none of the security outfits was left out. The civil defense, custom, immigration, prison, all played key roles in providing adequate security. There was no shortfall in any area”.

The acting Police boss in the state, Suleiman Abba, said that much when he stated that, “my colleague who left for Rivers state has put everything in place. I can only add to it. One can say that all the arrange-ment to protect the integrity of the electoral process have been put in place. In particular, to protect INEC officials, the materials and especially to provide an enabling ground. That is to say that the electorate can go out and cast their votes and either stay there or go back home. Now, I must tell from what I have seen so far, it is a team work and all of us have resolved to do what ever we need do to make the electoral process a huge success. My advice to hoodlums or anybody that would like to cause trouble is that provisions have been made in the electoral act, public order act and other penal provisions of our law, to take adequate care of anybody who decides to go against our laws during and after the elections. Section 129 of the electoral acts would take care of certain conducts. What I have seen so far is overwhelming, I must tell you that this is as a result of early preparations. I think this is time for the police to prove it’s worth. The Inspector-General of police has given quite enough directives that will protect the right of the electorate. We have identified the flashpoints and we have deployed a lot of men there, but what we intend to do is to have a large reserve for reinforcement to areas around Ikorodu, Mushin, the Island. We are reinforcing them. Both junior and senior officers will be redeployed to these flashpoints so that miscreants who have been warned enough to stay clear, at least if the don’t, they will take care of them”, he stated.