By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Three thousand and seven hundred policemen will be deployed for the Imo state senatorial by-election in Imo North holding this weekend.
The policemen are drawn from the south east and from the force headquarters in Abuja.
Imo Commissioner of Police Isaac Akinmoyede disclosed this on Thursday during the distribution of sensitive materials to councils. He said the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, were working to ensure a hitch-free election.
This was as he warned trouble makers to stay away, warning that security agents would deal with whoever tries to undermine the election.
The Coalition Of Okigwe Youths have vowed to resist attempts to rig the election. They warned agents of destabilisation to desist from any inglorious and fraudulent practices.
Chairman Chiedozie Ibekwe said: “The youths will not tolerate connivance with the police or any security agent to rig the election. Any person or group of persons, no matter how highly placed, who attempts to rig the election will have the youths of Okigwe zone to contend with.
“We also call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), police and other security agencies to avoid being used by politicians to rig the election.”