Following the recent attacks on the offices of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun and Osun states, the National Security Adviser (NSA), to the President, Babagana How Nigeria Recorded 52 Cases Of Political Violence In One Month, Monguno Reveals has revealed that the country has recorded 52 acts of political violence across 22 states between 8 October and 9 November, 2022.
Monguno, a retired major general, made this revelation at an emergency meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) organised by INEC in Abuja on Friday.
The inter-agency committee comprises; Monguno; the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba; Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
Speaking during the meeting, Monguno read the riot act against further attacks on the INEC facilities across the country.
The NSA warned that the security agencies have been given directive to deal decisively with individuals or groups working to scuttle the 2023 electoral process.
According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari had given a directive that the 2023 general elections be conducted without any rancour.
He said: “I am aware of the fact that within a period of just one month from October 8, to November 9, we’ve had 52 cases of violence across 22 states of the Federation. This is a bad signal. This is something that we do not want to continue. This is something that’s going to result in a lot of complications.
“We’re all aware of the fact that the President as far as he’s concerned, he is committed to upholding and safeguarding democracy. This is what the people want. The President has also given his directives through me to all the operational intelligence and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the 2023 elections are held in an atmosphere devoid of rancor.
“Those people who have gangsters working for them, I want to send a very, very clear warning, a categorical and unequivocal warning to each and every one, regardless of whichever political party, including the party of the President, for as long as you decide to scuttle the electoral process, the law enforcement agencies will equally be uninhibited in reacting to whatever actions you have taken.
“You will be visited with appropriate and commensurate response. I want to assure you, and I’m saying this with all sincerity, so those people who feel they have had a history of organizing and controlling groups that have an inclination for excessive, immoderate and inordinate behavior, I want to send this warning to you, please, reevaluate, whatever contemplation you have been making.
“Call your people and advise them that as long as they do not behave in a manner that suggests compliance with the electoral laws, you will be held accountable. Therefore, it is important for you to call those people and you know the people under your control, those trigger happy hoods foaming at the mouth, desperate to have the opportunity to undermine the electoral process, they will be brought to book. Already the security agencies intelligence agencies have been tracking these people.
“This I can guarantee you, you need to do yourself a favor. Call your people, your hoods, talk to them, have a nice quiet fireside chat with them and tell them to lay down whatever plans they have because whoever wins in any state whichever party that wins, that party has won. This is the intention of the President of this country. There will be no excuse whatsoever,” Monguno added.
In his remarks, the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission have confirmed that cases of arson at the INEC offices in Ogun and Osun led to the loss of 904 election boxes and 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
While expressing strong concerns over political attacks, he urged the committee to take decisive action to nip such occurrences in the bud.
He also urged the security agencies to take decisive and swift response from the security agencies to check the negative trend in the country.
