Feb. 16 polls: Nigerian Army reads riot act, warns soldiers, trouble makers
*Says no soldier will escort politician, civilian to polling unit
*Anyone wearing military fatigue at a polling unit is a hoodlum
*Report anyone wearing military fatigue at polling unit
*Seeks media cooperation
Admin l Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019
PORT HARCOURT, Rivers State, Nigeria – The Nigerian Army has declared that no soldier will escort a politician or civilian to a polling unit on election day. It further stated that anyone wearing a military camouflage at a polling unit on election day is nothing but a miscreant.
“Anyone seen wearing a military camouflage at a polling unit on election day will be arrested. No soldier of the Nigeria Army will be seen escorting a politician, civilian or seen at a polling unit on election day, and this is official.”
The Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Illiasu, who briefed journalists, at the headquarters of the 6, Division Nigerian Army, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, urged “anyone with useful information about security breach to call 09027771482, immediately.”
“We also wish to use this medium to warn all would-be trouble makers before, during and after elections to have a change of mind and action as our troops will not tolerate any act by anybody to truncate the electoral process.”
“It has also come to our notice that some sponsored miscreants are planning to to use military-like fatigue dress pretending to be troops of the Nigerian Army to perpetuate carnage at pooling centres; the plan has failed as no soldier is allowed to be seen in a polling unit. Any soldier found near a polling unit is an imposter and should be treated as such.”
The deputy director of Army Public Relations assured: “To the teeming law abiding citizens, we wish to reassure you of our resolve to provide safe and conducive atmosphere in conjunction with other security agencies to enable you exercise your franchise without fear of molestation.”
“In line with our constitutional mandate, 6 Division Nigerian Army which covers Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers State has concluded all necessary arrangements to aid civil authorities in the smooth and peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections.”
Illiasu stressed: “The General Officer Commanding (GOC)/ Land Component Commander (LLC) JTF OPDS, Maj General Jamil Sarham, wishes to reaffirm the neutrality of the troops and to continue to remain apolitical as they conduct their assigned duties professionally.”
He ensured that the GOC has directed the troops to always conform with the Rules of Engagement (ROE) and strongly warned them to desist from fraternising with political parties or figures as defaulters will be severely dealt with. Meanwhile, the 6 Division in conjunction with other security agencies in Rivers State will jointly conduct a confidence building patrol within Port Harcourt metropolis, on Thursday, February 14, by 8.am.
According to the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, “the exercise is aimed at sensitising and reassuring the general public of the unalloyed resolve of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to work in synergy in the discharge of their constitutional mandates of protecting lives and property, eliminating all forms of criminality in the society and ensuring a conducive environment for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.”
