Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The security agencies have vowed to deal with any threat as the nation goes to the polls to elect a new President and national assembly members this Saturday.
The vow was made on Thursday at a joint media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
The Force Public Relations Officers (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the military and police are collaborating to put measures emplaced to ensure a safe, secure, and conducive environment for the conduct of elections
He said the IGP has ordered restriction of movement from midnight of Friday to Saturday 6pm.
The Force PRO noted that, all security aides and escorts are banned from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election as anyone found flouting this directive will be sanctioned.
He emphasized that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties are to be seen within and around the designated election booths and centres.
In his welcome address, Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau urged the security agencies to remain vigilant, apolitical, and steadfast in discharging their constitutional responsibilities.
He reassured the public of military support to the Nigeria Police as the lead agency in election security management, and assured that the AFN is prepared to support the Nigerian Police and other govt agencies responsible for conducting elections.
He said, the CDS has sent out strong messages that the military is committed to total collaboration, saying the elections will be conducted and everyone will be at liberty to exercise his franchise”
“The AFN is committed to strong and virile constitutional democracy, we are very loyal to the Nigerian State and we are ready to defend democracy at all cost.
“During the elections, all our normal operations and duties will continue simultaneously across the country. Operation Safe conduct has been activated to provide guidance to the Armed Forces Nigeria during the general elections.
He said the DHQ has established a monitoring team in conjunction with other security agencies that will over see the process in FCT and all 6 geopolitical zones of the country.
Similarly, operations centres have been established in FCT and the 36 states of the country to serve as quick response centres for all distress calls in the event of any breach of peace during the general election.
“I want to use this opportunity to re-echo the warning of the CDS to undesirable elements, that the military and other security agencies are ready and will subvert any threats to peace and tranquility. Strong force will be applied to those that want to breach public peace.
In his message, the DSS Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya assured of it’s commitment to a peaceful electoral exercise for the forthcoming 2023 elections.
The service pledged its neutrality, professionalism and good conduct of its personnel to the democratic process.
The media brief, well attended by all the public relations officers of all the three services and the Nigeria Police.
