Security agencies on Monday conducted a “Show of Force’’ exercise in Calabar, Cross River capital, in preparation for the upcoming general elections.

Agencies that participated were the Nigerian Army, navy, air force, Immigration Service, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Correctional Service, and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Commissioner of Police in Cross River, Sule Balarabe, told reporters in Calabar that the exercise was meant to show the agencies’ preparedness for the 2023 general elections.

He said the exercise was to signal to residents that security agencies were ready and prepared for the general elections and not afraid of any group that might want to cause a crisis.

He assured that security agencies would ensure peaceful and hitch-free polls in the state.

“We are guaranteeing voters in the state of adequate security when they go out to vote on Election Days.

“We have gone out on a show of force to appraise the strength of security agencies in the state, and I must say that we are ready for the polls.

“For now, the city of Calabar is calm, people are going about their normal businesses, and that is what we expect.

“As security agencies, we are going to face any common enemy together; we will not allow any group of individuals to cause crisis during the elections,’’ he said.

He urged parents and guardians to caution their children and wards to shun politicians’ attempts to use them to cause violence during the elections.

Mr Balarabe warned that anyone disrupting the election process would be arrested and prosecuted.

(NAN)