By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI—EBONYI State Police Command, yesterday raised alarm over the increasing use of youths as thugs, destruction of campaign bill boards, defacing of posters, sewing of uniforms for members of vigilante group and waylaying of campaign train rival parties across the state.

Commissioner of Police, Maigari Dikko, who spoke during a meeting with political stakeholders at the Police Officers’ Mess in Abakaliki, noted that a free for all between supporters of rival parties had equally been recorded in parts of the state.

According to him “Let me reiterate that maintaining a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the elections has been the desire of all of us here. The police command in particular is monitoring political rallies and campaigns, conduct of security agents at polling units and other strategic places for maintenance of law and order. Permit me to observe rather regrettably that there is emerging trend of a “do or die approach” in a manner campaigns are being conducted in the state.

“Reports from some local governments point to a disturbing culture of youths manipulated to serve as thugs and engage in tearing and defacing of posters, destruction of bill boards, defacing of campaign posters, waylaying of campaign trains of rival parties and other unwholesome misconducts. Vigilante groups will not be allowed to be used as political thugs; activities of militant youths will henceforth be closely monitored to check-mate violence.”

Former governor, Sam Egwu and PDP senatorial candidate for Ebonyi North senatorial zone called for maturity during the elections and urged security agencies and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be unbiased umpires during the election.

In their separate remarks, the governorship candidates of the PDP represented by his running mate, Eric Kelechi Igwe, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Senator Anthony Agbo, All Progressive Congress, APC, Senator Julius Ali Ucha, and Labour Party, LP, Edward Nkwegu, called on the security agencies including the Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp, Department of State Service, DSS, to be proactive in their assignments of protecting lives and property.

Speaking, state Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Mr. Lawrence Azubuike, charged politicians to handle the elections in the spirit of sportsmanship and play according to the rules of the election.

Also, the representative of the European Union Election Observation Mission, EUEOM, monitoring Abia, Imo and Ebonyi, urged politicians to work towards a free and fair general election.