Nigerian govt speaks on threats to national security

The Federal Government on Monday, warned against any
form of threat to internal security, before, during and after the 2019 general
polls.

Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (Rtd), in a
statement signed by Mr Mohammed Manga, the ministry’s Director of Press &
Public Relations, said government had put in place adequate security
architecture to “neutralise all forms of security threats”.
Dambazau said that President Muhammadu Buhari, was committed to
ensuring free, fair and credible elections; and that “in order to achieve this
commitment, elections must be peaceful.
“Therefore, government will leave no stone un-turned in its
efforts towards free, fair and credible elections.
“The Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence
Corps and other security agencies have been directed to arrest and prosecute
anyone threatening internal security either in form of possession of weapons of
any type.

“Interfering or causing
election related disturbances, threats of violence and intimidation during the
elections, disturbance of peace or involvement in political thuggery, will be
decisively dealt with in accordance with the laws,” Dambazau said.
He advised parents to ensure that their children were not used by
desperate politicians to disrupt the electoral process, as security agencies
had been mandated to guard against any form of internal security threats
before, during and after the elections.
The minister said similarly, “anyone found to be involved in
sponsoring political thuggery, violence or threat to internal security will
face the wrath of the law”.
He stated that Nigerians had the right to belong to any political
party and vote candidates of their choice; adding that; “as such, politicians
must give them the opportunity to do so”.
While praying for God’s guidance and protection during the polls, the minister wished all Nigerians peaceful elections.