March 9 polls: Politicians planning to bomb election venues – Buratai

The chief of army staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, made the disclosure on Wednesday, March 6, during a meeting with Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), General Officers Commanding (GOC), operational commanders and directors held at army headquarters, Abuja, Daily Trust reports.

Buratai said security reports had shown that politicians were planning to disrupt the coming elections by using all means available to them.

“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 to succeed. We shall not allow those who are determined to undermine our electoral process to succeed.”

The army chief emphasised the importance of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections, noting that the polls were in the interest of the people at the grassroots and could likely be volatile in nature.

Buratai urged all commanders to work civil authorities and all law-abiding individuals to ensure the success of the forthcoming elections.