Keep off! Army warns trouble-makers, assures S’East residents of security ahead Feb. 25 polls

Anthony Iwuoma

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army,  Maj.-Gen. Aminu Chinade has, ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, warned trouble-makers to keep off the South-east zone, as the Nigeria Army is ready to give ‘a bloody nose’.

Addressing troops deployed for election duty in various parts of the region in Enugu, the GOC assured residents of the zone of adequate security throughout the election period and thereafter.

He said, “I will urge all our brothers and sisters in the South East to come out en masse to vote massively without any fear of molestation.

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“They should disregard the empty threat issued by a fugitive in Europe and other threats coming from any miscreant saying that they should not come out and vote.

“Adequate security arrangements have been put in place all over the South-east to ensure that every Nigerian especially our brothers and sisters in the South-east exercise their franchise and vote without any fear.

“Those that feel within any reason that they want to disrupt this election, they are in for a bloody nose.”

According to Gen. Chinade, the Army had made resources available to decisively deal with any negative situation.

He tasked the soldiers to work closely with other security agencies and stakeholders to safeguard the lives and property of all residents and provide conducive atmosphere for peaceful and successful conduct of the elections.

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He reminded the troops that the Nigeria Army is non-partisan, saying: “In discharging our mandate, we must be professional, neutral and apolitical. The armed forces and especially the Nigerian Army is a neutral organisation when it comes to politics and so we will continue to be.

“We must work in partnership with other security agencies and host communities to ensure we deliver on our mandate for this election,” warning, however, that the authorities would not condone unprofessional conduct from any personnel.

The GOC urged residents to call any of the following numbers in case of emergency:

Abia —  09029568595, 07067880707;

Anamba  — 08030881453, 08024087164;

Ebonyi – 08161417223, 07030909717, 08136429668;

Enugu – 08034089570, 08064272907

Imo —  08164120381, 08035298532.