President Muhammadu Buhari has met with security chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and three northern state governors.
The meeting took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital, on Tuesday. State governors who attended the meeting included Adamawa State governor, Jibrilla Bindow; Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima and Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Security chiefs in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas.
Also present were Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Director General of Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Buchi, and some other security heads.
Members of the President’s cabinet at the meeting included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, as well as the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, and Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, among others.
President Buhari had on Monday warned that death awaits anybody who foments trouble during the rescheduled general election as he has ordered security operatives to be “ruthless.”
Nigeria’s commander-in-chief made this declaration while addressing a meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus in Abuja.
The Nigerian leader, visibly unhappy, was reacting to the postponement of Nigeria’s general election by the country’s electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I have briefed the law enforcement agencies and the military. They have identified the hot spots, flashpoints,” Buhari warned at the meeting on Monday.
“They should be prepared to move. We have made as much arrangement as possible and resources provided as much as the country can afford.
“Anybody who decides to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb it, maybe this is the last lawful action you will take.
“I really gave the military and the police (order) to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig election. I want Nigerians to be respected. Let them vote whoever they want across the parties.”
