The National Security Council has expressed concern over the suspected proliferation and stockpiling of weapons by those it refered to as disgruntled elements, ahead of the 2019 elections.
The council which met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa on Thursday, had in attendance, the NSA, Babagana Monguno, Defence minister, Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali, Chief of Defence staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotum Idris.
A statement by the office of the minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali, sigbed by Col Tukur Gusau, spokesman of the minister said another area if concern to the council was the issue of post election violence by desperste politicians who may whip up sentiment to create security situation in the country.
The statement said, “The meeting started by discussing the general over-view of the security situation in the country as it relates to the conduct of the fourth coming 2019 general elections.
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“It recommended deployment of security agencies to the states to enable the elections to be conducted peacefully and to further doused tension created by the outcome of the political parties’ primaries and some desperate persons to sabotage the electoral process.
“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 been 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 council called for the concerted effort of all security agencies to ensure that the 2019 elections are hitch free and the need for continuous sensitization 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.”
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