The Nigerian Army has restated its commitment to collaborate with police and other security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shuaib stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police in Borno, Abdu Umar, on Tuesday in Maiduguri.
He said that closer collaboration between the military, police and other security agencies would facilitate maximum security during pre and post-election periods.
The GOC said the visit would avail his opportunity to rob minds on the preparedness of the police to address security challenges during the elections.
“The police is the lead agency but due to the peculiar nature of the Northeast, it requires that the military in the seat of authority are the ones who provide the lead in various operations.
“Elections violence can either occur prior to the conduct of the elections, during or post elections, and both agencies would be involved in addressing these issues.
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“As the campaign already started, the joint security normally conducts operations to ensure that the metropolis is safe.
“We will reinforce all our forces including the hybrid forces to a secured environment in the Maiduguri metropolis.
“So many intelligence reports have been coming up. It’s only when we work together that will ensure things are spin down,” he said.
Responding, Abdu said the police would continue to collaborate with the military to protect lives and property in the state.
He said the Command had intensified patrols in collaboration with hybrid forces to combat crimes.
The Commissioner reiterated the readiness of the police to provide security to facilitate the conduct of free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections.
