Following the violence that trailed the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State, troops from the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian military have moved into Akwa Ibom State to commence a special operation, ‘Show of Force’. According to the Army Public Relations Officer, Maj. Bashir Jajira, the purpose of the operation is to instill confidence in the electorate to come out in their numbers to vote at the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, scheduled to hold on 9th March 2019, without fear of intimidation. He also noted that it is being carried out in conjunction with other security agencies in the State and the troops would be parading along flashpoints like Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo, Ikot Abasi, Oruk Anam, Eastern Obolo, Ikot Ekpene, Ibiono Ibom/Itu and Uyo.
It will be recalled that in the concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers State, the soldiers of Division 6 were said to have disrupted the electoral process in Ikwerre, Okrika and Ahoada West Local Government Areas of the State.