The Nigerian military has said it will take the back seat during the March 23 supplementary polls that will take place in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto States.
This is coming on the heels of public outcry and condemnation over the militarization of the 2019 general elections, which many believed affected the outcome of the polls.
The Director Defence Information (DDI), Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu while speaking at the joint media briefing by spokespersons of the Armed forces of Nigeria and the police on Thursday in Abuja said, the role of the military in an election, is to complement the police force.
The Colonel added that the military is not at loggerheads with the police.
“We are mindful of the fact that the role of the AFN is complimentary to that of the police .We have no doubt that we are taking the back seat as the AFN while the police takes the led with the security architecture for this election.
“There is no loggerhead between the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and the police force. We have also taken into account the very serious concern of the military high command and the Nigeria police force on the unfortunate incidence talking about the alleged encroachment of some military personnel into collation centre .
“I want to believe that those lacunas that brought about that unfortunate incident have been addressed. The incident is been investigated and after exhaustive investigations, we will make a report. What i assure Nigeria is that nothing will be swept under the carpet. We will be as transparent as possible. We want to assure Nigerians that we are remain apolitical and as professionals as we have always been. The incidence is a major concern to the AFN and police.
On this part, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO)Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP) Frank Mba said the force has arrested a total 1119 suspects from the just concluded general elections.
He said Akwa Ibom, Imo and Kaduna States recorded the number of arrests.
“A number of suspects were arrested just like the presidential and the national assembly election we also arrested substantial number of violators of the electoral laws and in the last gubernatorial and house of assembly elections.
“Specifically, we have a total of 796 suspects arrested in the last elections. That is to say,796 arrested in the gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections. If you add that to the initial 323 persons arrested during the presidential and national assembly elections, it will give you a total of 1119 persons arrested so far
“It will also interest you to know that in the gubernatorial and states house of assembly elections the state that recorded the highest number of arrest is Akwa Ibom state with a total of 256 closely followed by Imo state 117 and Kaduna with a total of 109.
“These suspects in our custody include suspects that were transferred to us from the AFN . it is also imperative to mention here that as investigations precede this number will either shrink or increase as the case maybe.
“Some of the suspects may eventually be released without charge while some of them may implicate or make statements that will require us arresting further suspects . so this number is not sacrosanct,” he said.
Stella Enenche, Abuja
