Acting Inspector General of Police Muhammed Abubakar Adamu has raised the alarm over reports of some politicians stockpiling firearms to disrupt the electoral process.
Adamu said this during a strategic election security planning meeting with Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) in-charge of operations, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja yesterday.
The revelation is coming about a week after the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said there were plans by the opposition to cause mayhem ahead of next month’s general elections.
The minister also listed some 10 states, including Borno, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Kano among others as some of those states the opposition were planning to attack using the Boko Haram elements, Mohammed said, they (opposition) were funding.
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party had earlier said there were plans by the ruling All Progressives Congress to frame up its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for gunrunning.
IGP speaks
And in what appears a confirmation of the federal government’s position, the IGP said, “We remain genuinely concerned about the disposition of some ill-advised political actors who appear bent on threatening our democratic values and our national security all in their desperation to project their narrow political interests over and above national interests.
“We are also concerned about subversive actors who masquerade as politicians and are taking advantage of the freedoms that our democracy has bestowed on the citizens to encourage hate speeches and misinformation, and inflame passion in a manner that could threaten our stable political order.
“Equally worrisome are reports of firearms build-up by some political actors and threats in some other quarters to disrupt the electoral process.
“We also note an increasing level of political intolerance which has been occasioning pockets of inter-party violence and destruction of campaign billboards across the country. All of these constitute not only serious electoral or criminal infractions, but major national security threats.”
The IGP said the police, under his leadership, recognised the credibility of the electoral process as key to the strengthening of the nation’s democratic credentials, and assured of the determination to emplace strategies that would guarantee peaceful, secure and level-playing field for all political actors and citizens.
He charged the Heads of Operations to return to their areas of jurisdiction and, “Protect the law abiding, but identify, isolate and deal decisively with any political actor that acts in contravention of the Electoral Act or our Criminal Laws.
“This is our sacred mandate and this we shall perform within the dictates of the law and in the overriding national security interest.”
NGF too
Raising similar concerns after their meeting in Abuja yesterday, governors of the 36 states of the federation expressed their readiness to collaborate with security agencies to stem the tide of violence during the elections.
The governors gave the assurance after the Nigeria Governors Forum had a meeting with top security officers headed by the National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno, in Abuja yesterday.
The meeting, the NSA said, was called to update the governors on the security situation in the country ahead of the forthcoming elections.
He had convened the meeting with the governors in order to get their buy-in as regards the implementation of security measures for the smooth conduct of the elections.
Addressing journalists after the session, NGF Chairman and Governor of Zamfara state, Mr. Abdul’aziz Yari, said the spate of kidnappings in the country has remained a source of concerns to them.
He said the governors also resolved to collaborate with security agencies to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible.
“Governors as major stakeholders, they (NSA and security agencies) seek our cooperation so that their job would be easier. We promised to do our best and ensure the election is free and credible.
“Not only that, we came through the ballot box and we are going through the same process to seek re-election and make sure that the election is free and is commended by the international community as they did in 2015,” he said.
He said the governors have recommended a stronger collaboration and intelligence sharing amongst security agencies to ensure that lives and property are protected in all parts of the country.
Also speaking, Acting IGP Adamu said the police would ensure a violence-free poll.
He said security agencies were ready for the election and would ensure they mop up illegal arms in the system.
The IGP said police would remain neutral before, during and after polls.
El-Rufai meets security chiefs
Meanwhile, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state yesterday said he met with the nation’s top security chiefs in Abuja to ensure threats to the general elections in Kaduna state are kept at bay.
Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Kafanchan town, headquarters of Jema’a local government area, the governor said recent intelligence reports indicated that some people wanted to foment crisis in Southern Kaduna before or during elections.
He stated that the reports showed the planners wanted the violence to spread to other parts of the state because they have sensed defeat in the coming general election.
“I have met with the Chief of Defence Staff (General Abayomi Olanisakin), the Chief of Army Staff (Lt.-General Tukur Buratai) and the Inspector General of Police (Mohammed Abubakar Adamu) on the issue and they promised to strengthen security in Kaduna state before and during elections,” el-Rufai said.
The governor further said the security chiefs assured they would deploy new personnel to tackle the security threat.
He, however, advised parents to warn their children to be of good behaviour and caution them against carrying any weapon on election day.
“Tell your children and wards that the only thing that they should carry with them on election day to the polling unit is their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The police will arrest them if they carry weapons.”
The governor also met with traditional rulers in Southern Kaduna during which he reiterated similar warning.
He, however, called on residents to come out and vote for their preferred candidates as adequate security will be provided on election day.
“But there are some people who bring ethnicity and religion on the issue. In spite of what the government has done for the people of Southern Kaduna, they have vowed not to vote for us because they say that our party is out to Islamise Nigeria.”
El-Rufai, however, told the gathering that Architect Barnabas Bala Bantex has been his deputy for close to four years, but he has not Islamised him.
