The Nigerian Army, on Tuesday, gave stern warning to those planning to disrupt the forthcoming general elections to desist from their evil plots, noting that the force would deal decisively on any thug caught causing confusion in any polling unit.
The force disclosed this via a statement signed by the Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Colonel, AMINU ILIYASU.
They reiterated the headquarters 6 division would not show mercy to any political thug in its area of responsibility. Recall that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, President Muhammadu Buhari. had ordered on Monday that Nigerian soldiers and Police force to be ruthless to thugs.
Obeying that statement the army said, “Headquarters 6 Division will deal decisively with any political thug in its area of responsibility.
“Credible intelligence available to Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian Army (NA) has uncovered an unholy plan by some political actors within its Area of Responsibility (AOR) to arm and sponsor miscreants in addition to using military-like fatigue dress for deception to cause pandemonium at polling stations for their political gain. While covert efforts are on-going to track the source of the weapons and the agents involved in conjunction with sister security agencies, authorities of 6 Division NA wish to unequivocally state that anyone found to be disrupting the electoral process under any guise will be decisively dealt with in accordance with the laws no matter how highly placed he or she is.
To this end, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division and Land Component Commander (LCC) OPDS Maj Gen Jamil Sarham wish to reassure the good people of Niger Delta of providing adequate security in conjunction with other security agencies before, during and after the 2019 General Elections.
The army has also thanked the citizens of Niger Delta for cooperation and responsibility to disclose crucial information to the police and encouraged them to do more.
The political tension has marred Nigeria during this time of hotly contested elections. Some of the reasons cited by INEC to have led to the postponement of elections include insecurity fears that was feared to affect the process.
This statement comes just few days before the rescheduled elections set to take place on Saturday, February 23.