By Stanley Ekpenyong, Calabar
Ahead of Saturday’s By-election in the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State Constituency of Cross River State, Commissioner of Police, Alhassan Aminu, has warned that anyone, or group of persons, planning to disrupt the exercise will be decisively dealt with.
Addressing newsmen Thursday, shortly after the state security meeting, Aminu said security agents are on the ground and fully prepared for the election.
According to him, “this is an election that involves two areas, in two different places in the state, one in the southern senatorial district and the other in the Northern Senatorial District. We cannot say we don’t expect any challenge. These challenges are what we have sat down to douse, so that the public and the electorate, and the people involved in the exercises will have time to make them perfect. We have put adequate arrangements in place.”
Urging people in the areas the exercise will be taking place not to allow themselves to be used by unscrupulous elements to foment trouble, the Commissioner of Police said: “As fellow Nigerians and Cross Riverians, nobody should involve you or pay you to go and cause trouble because once security agents catch you, the outcome will not be palatable.
“I advise that you should keep away. Any person who wants to foment trouble or commit any atrocities will regret it. We will not take any nonsense from any person. “
He assured that “all polling stations, all junctions and important places in all the towns that are involved in Yala, Ogoja and Akpabuyo are all manned.”
Aminu urged the people to feel free to come out en masse and vote without any fear of intimidation.
