Polls: 200 armed policemen, soldiers escort sensitive materials to Enugu councils, residents in panic purchase

No fewer than 200 armed policemen and soldiers have been deployed to escort sensitive materials to the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State.
Dr Emeka Ononamadu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, disclosed this in Enugu on Friday.
Ononamadu was speaking while distributing sensitive materials at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Enugu.
The sensitive materials being off-loaded included ballot papers and its accessories as well as result sheets, which is Form EC 8B from the truck-pallets.
The REC said that the sensitive materials would get to the local government secretariats and then to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) before nightfall.
“We have enough security personnel on ground to ensure minute-to-minute security of the sensitive materials.
“We also have buses for the 17 council areas, where we have started sorting out the ballot papers and its accessories for onward movement,’’ he said.
Ononamadu noted that the sensitive materials would also be safeguarded by security personnel in the council areas and RAC centres as well as monitored by various party agents.
“We do not have history of sensitive materials hijack in Enugu State; however, we are not leaving any stone unturned in terms of security,’’ he assured.
On delays on the distribution of the materials since some council areas are far from Enugu, the REC noted that the sorting of the sensitive materials by council areas was being done fast and within an hour it would be over.
“The farthest council area, which is Uzo-Uwani, is not more than an hour and 30 minutes’ drive from Enugu here; so I believe that before nightfall, the materials will get to that council area and its RACs.
“So, I am confident that the materials will get everywhere’’, he said.
Ononamadu, however, assured residents of Enugu State especially the electorate that all materials would be ready at the polling units before 8 a.m.
Meanwhile, security has been heightened around INEC headquarters in Enugu in preparations for the presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday.
The police had mobilised its bomb squad unit to routes around the commission’s headquarters in Enugu.
Apart from other routine checks, vehicles were frisked with specialised gadgets.
It was observed that as at 2:55p.m on Friday, security agents had commenced a general check on all vehicles in Enugu metropolis.
The security agents were strategically positioned at locations like New Heaven, Trans-Ekulu and Agbani Road; all in Enugu metropolis
Other places with security check-points include Independence Layout, Artisan and GRA Enugu.
Also, Enugu residents have engaged in panic purchase of food items ahead of the elections.
The rush was noticed mainly in the major markets.
At the Ogbete Main Market, people were mostly rushing for perishable food items such as meat, tomatoes, dry fish, ice fish, and vegetable.
The rush was to accumulate enough stock that would sustain them throughout the election period.
The rush was also taking place at the Artisan and Ariaria Markets all within Enugu metropolis
A Police officer, Mrs. Angela Obi, said that she was shopping against Saturday because she would be on election duties in the state.
“We have already started working by ensuring that laws and order were maintained throughout the election period and beyond,” Obi said.
Mrs. Nkem Okoro, a banker said that she was shopping to enable her travel to her village to cast her vote on Saturday.
“I registered in my village, and need to do my shopping this morning so that I can travel later today.
“I am traveling to the village with my family, I need to travel early in order to reach there on time” Okoro said.
Mr. Jude Eze, a civil servant said that he took permission from my office to do the shopping since there was no public holiday in Enugu as was done in some states.
“I came to the market early today because I want to cool down and buy everything I needed against Saturday’s election”.
Mrs. Kate Ugwuanyi, a tomato dealer, said that she had made bumper sales because of the rush.
“I have sold four and a half baskets of tomatoes today. I am optimistic that before the end of the day, I will be able to sell up to six baskets of tomatoes,” she said.