A group in Akwa Ibom State, the Akwa Ibom Liberation Movement, AILM, has urged the security agencies, especially the state’s Police Command not to be partial during tomorrow’s governorship and state houses of assembly elections, but should be guided by professionalism in doing their duties.

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The group, which specifically raised the alarm over what it described as plots by some security agents to connive with some elements in the All Progressives Congress, APC, to subvert the will of the masses through rigging, also condemned what it said is a tensed security atmosphere in the state.

The warning came on the heels of allegation in some quarters that the state police command is partisan.

Speaking on the alleged tense security situation in the state, the leader of the group, Prince Emmanuel Sam, wandered why Police are exhibiting  what he described as “lackadaisical attitude towards APC actions to destabilize the state, even after several alerts by concerned citizens of the state.”

He recalled that soon after some APC chieftains left the state on Monday 4th March, 2019, that the state has been witnessing a continuous influx of thugs “aligning with leaders of militia within the South South to undermine the freedom of Akwa Ibom people.”

According to him, “we woke up today with a dreadful news trending online that a facility belonging to the Independent  National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, has been set ablaze by suspected political thugs. It is on record that several alarms have been raised recently about plots to burning down INEC offices in the state and expected the Police and other relevant security agencies to forestall them.

“We believe this avoidable incident could not have occurred if preventive measures were taken. However, what has happened draws our mind back to recent events which took place in the state.

The group claimed that a prominent APC chieftain “matched his boasts with action by allegedly sending buses loaded with political thugs and hoodlums from Benin to Akwa Ibom State. Although most of the hoodlums were apprehended and handed over to the Police, they were reportedly set free on the orders of the Akwa Ibom state Police Command, who later claimed in a statement that those thugs were only visiting the state for an APC youth rally. Curiously, there has been no APC youth rally anywhere in the state during this period.

“Some pertinent questions begging for answers are: How did indigenous thugs from Edo drove all the way to Akwa Ibom in 50 buses for a nonexistent youth rally? Why did the Police release them without proper investigation especially considering the security situation in the country and our state at this period? What was the rush in releasing suspected APC political thugs when some PDP members incarcerated since the Presidential and National Assembly elections are yet to regain their freedom?

“ It is easy to assume that those hoodlums reportedly released by the Police may have set the INEC office on fire. The actions of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command during this election period leaves room for suspicion of connivance with the APC to rig the electoral process and engage in other electoral malpractices. We must make clear our disappointment  with the conduct of the state Police Command at this period of worsening security situation in our state.

“Since we are yet to hear from the CP on this allegation, we reserve our comment, but we urge the police not to be partial in their conduct during this last phase of election.

“At this juncture, we continue to call on the President Mohammadu Buhari to honour the oath he swore to defend Nigeria and Nigerians living in every part of the country. He is a product of democracy and must rise to defend it.

“Similarly, we appeal to the international community to come to our defence because Akwa Ibomites feel persecuted by the APC led federal government. APC may have perfected its plan to capture Akwa Ibom State, but it has failed by underestimating the resolve of our people to remain free. Every tier of our society, including the royal fathers, clergy, sociopolitical groups, women and youth groups have all made their stand known on peaceful elections. Therefore, we will not have anything to do with any political party or politician who wants to take us back to those evil days of insecurity, anxiety and chaos.”