The Chief of Army Staff (COAS),
Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has said they have uncovered plots by some
politicians seeking to disrupt the March 9 elections with violence, including
bombing some areas.
Buratai made the revelation on
Wednesday, during a meeting with Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), General
Officers Commanding (GOC), Operational Commanders and Directors of the military
at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
“Recent security threat
assessment and analysis of the coming elections showed that politicians have
made plans to use all means available to truncate the peaceful conduct of the
elections.
“There are indications of their
intent to take advantage of and to use the farmers/herders crisis, armed
political thugs and ethnic militias to perpetrate acts of violence, including
bombings.
“Some of them also intend to
infiltrate domestic staff of political opponents, employ mercenaries to carry
out acts of assassinations, use the social media for smear campaigns, hate
speeches and spread fake news in a bid to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the
elections,” Buratai said.
He, however, noted that the army
is well prepared and has set operations in place to ensure that the plans of
the deviant politicians, will not come to fruition.
Below is Buratai’s full
statement:
“OPENING REMARKS BY THE CHIEF OF
ARMY STAFF LT GEN TY BURATAI NAM OMM (BR) GSS psc(+) ndc (BD) FCMH FNHAM BA
(Hons) MA MPhil AT THE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF MEETING WITH PRINCIPAL STAFF
OFFICERS GENERAL OFFICERS COMMANDING OPERATIONAL COMMANDERS AND DIRECTORS HELD
AT ARMY HEADQUARTERS CONFERENCE ROOM ON 6 MAR 19
Once again let me welcome you all
to another expanded weekly meeting as done 2 weeks ago. I want to use this
opportunity to congratulate you all for the professional manner in which you
executed my directives for Operation SAFE CONDUCT. The proactive intervention
of NA in the recently concluded Presidential and National Assembly Elections
contributed greatly to its successful conduct and credibility. I am glad to
note that both international and local observers and indeed the Nigeria print
and electronic media applauded the professional role played by the Nigerian
Army in ensuring that a secure and conducive environment was created for
eligible voters to exercise their civic rights. Unfortunately, some level of
violence was still recorded leading to disruption of polls, burning of ballot boxes
in some areas as well as loss of lives, including the death of an officer and 3
soldiers. The Nigerian Army to a larger extent ensured that the large scale
electoral malpractices and acts of thuggery aimed at disenfranchising voters as
witnessed in previous elections were curbed despite the campaign of calumny
orchestrated by some politicians against us.
Overall, I am delighted to note
that the first phase of Operation SAFE CONDUCT was a huge success. Despite the
bomb explosion in some parts of Maiduguri and attack in Geidam, troops of
Operation LAFIYA DOLE were able to decisively defeat the attacks and secured
the area for a successful conduct of elections. We must therefore consolidate
on this success and prepare adequately for the second phase of the election by
reviewing our plans with a view to correcting observed lapses a peaceful poll
that will reflect the wishes of Nigerians that have the right to determine
those that govern them.
Recent security threat assessment
and analysis of the coming elections showed that politicians have made plans to
use all means available to truncate the peaceful conduct of the elections.
There are indications of their intent to take advantage of and to use the
farmers/herders crisis, armed political thugs and ethnic militias to perpetrate
acts of violence including bombings. Some of them also intend to infiltrate
domestic staff of political opponents, employ mercenaries to carry out acts of
assassinations, use the social media for smear campaigns, hate speeches and spread
fake news in a bid to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections. We must
not allow them succeed.
Let me reiterate that the NA will
enforce all guidelines in support of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the
peaceful conduct of the elections in line with its constitutional roles. I
therefore want to remind us all not to rest on our oars. We shall not allow
those who are determined to undermine our electoral process to succeed. These
forthcoming gubernatorial and state assembly elections are very crucial. This
is an election that touches on the interest of the people at the grassroots and
could likely be volatile in nature. It is important to reiterate that
politicians will employ and deploy all means to outwit each other to gain
control of power at this level. We may recall that in the recently concluded
polls, some politicians in their quest for power, armed thugs and miscreants
with automatic weapons; induced and coerced youth corpers and INEC ad-hoc staff
to perpetrate acts of electoral malpractices. We must therefore continue to
support the NPF and other security agencies to prevent these malpractices from
occurring again. I therefore urge all commanders to work assiduously and
closely with the civil authorities and all law abiding individuals as well as
groups to ensure the success of the forthcoming elections.
During the course of the recently
concluded elections, troops of the Nigerian Army were able to make arrests of
persons who perpetrated acts of electoral offences. These suspects are to be immediately
handover to the police for prosecution. I want to state and categorically warn
that the Nigerian Army will not tolerate any acts that will undermine national
security. This time around we shall be tough on those who plan to rig or
disrupt the electoral process. I therefore want to appeal to Nigerian youths to
shun any attempt by any politician to use them to perpetrate any form of
violence. As we mourn the death of the young officer and soldiers killed on the
course of their lawful duty during the recently held election, I want to assure
their families that their death will not be in vain. In line with the tradition
of the Nigerian Army they will be given heroic burial as they are indeed the
heroes of our democracy. I have directed that their full entitlements be paid.
Let no one be in doubt that those desperate politicians and criminals that
attacked our troops in the course of carrying out their legitimate duties will
be tracked down and brought to justice.
We have all seen the advantages
of the NA Situation Room for Elections Security Monitoring. This laudable
innovation to security monitoring has received accolades from different
quarters and already promoting inter-agency cooperation. There is no doubt it
assisted us in timely decision making and more timely response to situations. I
want to urge all commanders to further key into the platform. As we take
decisions and respond, we must have at the back of our mind that the army must
remain professional and apolitical all through the electoral process.
There have been reports of
alleged compromises by some personnel during the elections. We have received
complaints from some stakeholders, major political parties, Governors of
Bayelsa, Oyo and Ogun States of allegation of misconduct as well as unprofessional
conduct by some of our personnel. Unfortunately some other states have gone to
the press with unsubstantiated allegation without resort to the NA leadership.
Nonetheless, all these complaints are noted and will be addressed
appropriately. A high powered committee had been convened and instituted to
investigate all cases of alleged misconduct by troops arising from the 2019
General Elections. This is aimed at ensuring that all cases are thoroughly
looked into for the purpose of dispensation of justice and to uphold Nigerian
Army’s credibility, professionalism, and apolitical stand.
Once again let me reiterate my
charge to you concerning this election:
Commanders must be vigilant to
ensure that cases of infiltrations to scare off voters are not allowed.
Hobnobbing and fraternization
with politicians during this election period is totally prohibited.
Commanders must ensure robust and
extensive patrols are carried out to cover all flash points; enforce the no
movement restrictions and carry out thorough searches of vehicles and persons.
Commanders must deal decisively
with any electoral crime or action such as electoral thuggery, snatching of
ballot boxes, illegal possession of electoral materials and firearms as well as
other crimes that would mar the smooth conduct of the election.
There must be no military escort
for any politician or retired military personnel until after the elections.
Commanders must ensure that no
retired military officer is allowed to use Service weapons hitherto authorised
for their personal safety during the period of the election.
Commanders must ensure that
troops remain on the ground to counter and deal ruthlessly with any
post-election violence.
Commanders must work in
conjunction with the police and other security agencies to dominate the
environment to forestall any form of violence.
Commanders must maintain force
protect and respond decisively to prevent any surprise attack on troops of
Operation SAFE CONDUCT and eligible voters by armed militia groups or political
thugs.
Commanders must act according to
the Rules of Engagement and within the code of conduct as well as have respect
for fundamental human rights in the performance of their assigned roles.
Commanders must not take any
unlawful orders from any politician no matter how highly placed that will
jeopardize the apolitical stand of the Nigerian Army.
Commanders must ensure troops
under their command remain apolitical, neutral and should deal ruthlessly with
electoral lawbreakers as well as avoid compromise with any politician and
political party.
Finally, I want to seize this
opportunity to thank all well-meaning Nigerians for their support to the
Nigerian Army. Our Situation Room and hotline contact numbers are open for
timely passage of information. We urge them to take advantage of the
facilities. I want to assure Nigerians that we are more than committed to
ensuring the successful conduct of the election. In the words of Sun Tzu I
quote “The general is the safeguard of the state. If the safeguard is flawed,
the State is surely weak”. The Nigerian Army must, therefore, work to keep the
promise to our nation and make it strong by ensuring that the election is free
of all forms of violence. We must, therefore, strive to make a difference. On
this note, I want to also most sincerely thank His Excellency President
Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for giving the Nigerian Army the opportunity to exercise
its constitutional role without any bias or interference. We must, therefore,
remain totally committed to the defence of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. I wish you all a successful conduct of Operation SAFE
CONDUCT and a violence-free election.
Thank you all and God bless.”
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