By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
The Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Suleiman Abba, has ordered that on no account should unauthorised security agents, including uniformed private and government security agencies, as well as voluntary organisations such as Boys Scout, Vigilante Group, Boys Brigade, Peace Ambassador, and Man ’O War, among others, be seen in uniform within 300 metres of any polling unit.
A press statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, yesterday in Abuja, said the IGP also warned politicians and other dignitaries not to go to polling units on the day of the election with armed orderlies.
He said the use of siren, revolving lights and tinted glasses by unauthorised citizens would also not be allowed at polling centres.
The police boss reassures the public of the commitment of the Force to the provision of round-the-clock security before, during and after the general elections for the teeming citizens of the country.
Abba also tasked citizens on their civic responsibility of obedience to all laws of the State and thus conduct themselves for free, fair and violence-free elections, adding that restriction of vehicular movement during the elections on March 28, 2015, and April 11, 2015, respectively, would be enforced.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has advised eligible voters to be security conscious as they go out to exercise their civic responsibility.
The service, in a press statement signed by its Deputy Director for Public Relations, Ms Marilyn Ogar, yesterday in Abuja, said: “It is imperative to remind all eligible voters to be law-abiding and security conscious while exercising their franchise.
“Equally, they should remain vigilant in crowded environments before, during and after the elections and abide by all stipulated guidelines emplaced to ensure peaceful conduct.
“Voters are advised to be weary of persons in loose or bulky midriff clothing; which are inappropriate for the weather; look out for unattended bags; luggage; dustbins; strange containers and other suspicious items.”
Ogar added: “All vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles and bicycles must be parked far away from the polling stations. All forms of trading should be discouraged. Suspicious persons, activities and movements should be promptly reported to security agents.
“The task of nation building is our collective responsibility, therefore, let us all play our part and shun violence. Once again, we restate our commitment to ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for all Nigerians to contribute towards strengthening our democracy.”
In a related development, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr David Shikfu Parradang, has called on embassy officials and leaders of ECOWAS communities resident in Nigeria, particularly neighbouring countries like Republics of Cameroun and Chad, to steer clear of polling centres during the elections.
At a meeting held yesterday in Abuja, Parradang warned that any non-Nigerian caught interfering in the electoral process would be made to face the law.
He stated that the warning had become necessary to ensure that the existing robust relationship among member states in the sub-region was not undermined by unnecessary meddlesomeness in the internal electoral affairs of member states.
The CG announced that effective midnight of Thursday, March 26 to midnight of March 28, 2015, all land and sea borders across the country would be closed to allow for hitch-free elections slated for 28th March 2015.
He also enjoined the community leaders to advise any of their nationals, who was in possession of Nigeria’s Permanent Voter’s Card, National Identity Card or Passport to surrender same immediately as anyone caught with any of them shall be brought before the law.
Parradang further stated that very soon the NIS shall embark on biometric registration of all ECOWAS and other African citizens resident in the country.
The exercise, he said, was to build a reliable database of all non-Nigerians resident anywhere in the country.
He also announced the deployment of 10 senior officers of the Service to effectively monitor the forth-coming elections.