Army, Police, Order Probe into Collation Centre Clash DHQ: Military won't truncate democracy

*Warns mischief makers against interference in supplementary polls



The Nigerian Army and the Police have launched a  joint investigation
into the recent clash between personnel of the two services at a
collation centre during the governorship and state houses of assembly
elections in Rivers State.

Also, following reactions trailing  its conduct in the just concluded
general elections and the  militarisation of some parts of the
country, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday assured Nigerians that the
military would not truncate  democracy, saying it fully surbodinates
itself to civil authority.

The Armed Forces High Command also warned mischief makers against
interference with Saturday's supplementary elections in some parts of
the country.

At a press conference addressed jointly by Spokespersons of the
Defence Headquarters, Police, Army, Navy and Air Force in Abuja,
Defence Spokesman, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, said contrary to insinuations
in some quarters, the military would not truncate Nigeria's fledgling
democracy.

"Some people have made comments about the military truncating
democracy. It is weird and very unfortunate.
"This is the same armed forces that restored democracy in Sierra
Leone, Liberia and recently, Gambia.

"The Armed Forces of Nigeria is full surboninated to civil authority.
At all times, we ensure that we don't cross the red line. We know our
role in a democracy", he said.

On the altercation between the army and police at the election
collation center in Rivers State, he said the leadership of both
agencies were working together to find a lasting solution.
Speaking earlier, Force Public Relations Officer and Assistant
Commissioner of Police, (ACP), Frank Mba, said the military and police
high command had ordered an investigation into the incidents while
some video footages that circulated on social media during the
election were being analysed.

He said a total of 1,119 suspects were arrested for electoral
infractions during the period.
The Force Public Relations Officer  said 796 suspects were arrested
during the Governorship and State House of Assembly polls noting that
256 were picked up in Akwa Ibom, 117 from Imo State and 109 from
Kaduna State.

Mba said some of the suspects were handed over  to the police by the military.
On tommorow's supplementary elections, he warned mischief makers to
desist from disrupting the election.
"Any person who tries to disrupt the election would be made to face
the full wrath of the law", he said.