….NSA talks tough, says perpetrators, sponsors ‘ll be punished
The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno on Friday said 52 cases of electoral violence have been recorded in 22 states in one month.
This is as the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba said some suspects have been arrested in connection to the twin fire incidents in Ogun and Osun states.
Monguno spoke at an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Abuja.
Monguno issued a stern warning saying that sponsors of violence and perpetrators would equally face the music.
He therefore advised political parties and their supporters on the need to play according to the rules of the game or face the music.
Speaking at the meeting Moguno said a directive has been given to security agencies to avert any attack and arrest perpetrators.
He said, “The emergency meeting is very crucial and timely as we approach the 2023 general election. There are issues that have emerged. From my own statistics, I am aware of the fact that within the period of one month, from the 8 October – 9 November 2022, we had 52 cases of violence across 22 states of the federation. This is a bad signal.”
He therefore barked out, ” Those people who have gangsters working for them and have decided to spoil the electoral process, I want to categorically warn you regardless of your party, the law enforcement agencies will deal with you immensely. Re-assess whatever decisions you are planning. Call your people and advise them that as long as they do not behave themselves in a logical manner, you will be held accountable. Therefore, it is important for you to call those people that are desperate to undermine the elections in 2023 to order because the security agencies are already tracking the situation.”
He also said that the president
“We are all aware of the fact that the President, Muhammadu Buhari is committed to upholding and safeguarding democracy. This is what people want, adding that “The President has also given the directive to all operational Intelligent law enforcement agencies to ensure that the 2023 elections are held in an atmosphere void of violence.
“The President is extremely pleased with the outcome of the Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States and wants a repeat of such performance; a manifestation of the peoples’ will triumph over any obstacle that might dismantle the democracy that we are trying to protect.”
He therefore assured Nigerians that “the security agencies have been given clear instructions to be in charge of any situation in which any group, organisation or institution decides to embark on what we call considered to be fundamental crime.”
Adding, “The important thing is that every Nigerian is allowed to cast his or her vote and the votes must count.”
The Inspector General who spoke in the same vein said that the security agencies would be meeting to tackle the rising threat.
He also said that security Chiefs have been directed to scale up security around INEC offices and the country.
