By Ahmed Idris
The National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari has raised concern over post-election violence and stockpiling of weapons by desperate politicians across the country ahead of the 2019 elections.
The National Security Council met at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
A statement issued by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Mansur Dan-Ali, after the meeting, said disgruntled elements were bent on taking laws into their hands at the slightest opportunity.
The statement reads: “The meeting also discussed attempt to put pressure on electoral body by some notable personalities through demonstrations which was brought under control by combine efforts of security agencies to avoid being hijacked by hoodlums or armed bandits.
“Another area of security concern includes post-election violence, as desperate politicians may whip up ethno-religious sentiments to create security situation in the country. Also of concern is the proliferation and stockpiling of weapons by some disgruntled elements with a desire to take laws into their hands at the slightest opportunity.’’
The minister said the the meeting recommended the deployment of security agencies to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the peaceful conduct of the elections.
He said the deployment would further doused tension created by the outcome of the political parties’ primaries and some desperate persons to sabotage the electoral process.
He said the council called for “concerted efforts of all security agencies to ensure that 2019 elections are hitch free,” and stressed the need for continuous sensitisation of the public by National Orientation Agency (NOA) and regular meetings of relevant stakeholders including INEC, international/local observers and the media ahead of the elections.
