The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had last Thursday confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group known as “Lukarawa” in the North.
Nigerians have taken to social media to berate the Nigeria Police Force for deploying 12,500 conventional police personnel and 400 tactical unit members for the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election amid the rising killings and emergence of a new terrorists group known as “Lukarawas” in the North-West of the country.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had last Thursday confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group known as “Lukarawa” in the North.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, who made this known during a briefing on military operations in Abuja, said that the new terror group originated in the Republic of Niger after the recent coup, which disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger.
On Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that the Nigeria Police Force announced the deployment of over 12,900 personnel, helicopter, drones, gunboats, armoured vehicles, amongst others for the Ondo governorship election which is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 16.
A breakdown of the deployment shows that 12,500 conventional police personnel were deployed to the 18 local government areas in the state, 400 members of tactical units were deployed to area commands in the state, while 36 units of PMF (Police Mobile Force) were deployed to the local government areas.
Also deployed are 110 vehicles comprising 12 Armoured Personnel Carriers, five gun trucks, two water cannons, five lorry trucks, 75 patrol vehicles, five buses, one Razor and four ambulances.
The police also deployed one helicopter and two unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) or drones to Ondo Central, North and South Senatorial Districts and 20 gunboats along with 80 personnel to riverine areas.
The Force spokesperson, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, had in a statement said the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had ordered the deployment of officers from various specialised units, including the Special Intervention Squad, Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Protection Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit and K-9 Unit.
But reacting to the report, Nigerians on X have lambasted the police for deploying over 12,900 personnel and other instruments for a one state governorship election.
They noted that the police made the election look like there is a war going on in Ondo while the country is ravaged with insecurity and the emergence of the new terrorists group taking over some areas particularly in Sokoto State.
