Nigeria’s security services have appealed to the electoral commission to postpone Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State to enable them deal with terrorist threats in the area.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services said that ‘credible intelligence’ indicates plans by insurgent/extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and high population soft targets during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations between12th and 13th September, 2016.
“Edo State, is amongst the States being earmarked for these planned attacks by the extremist elements,” they said in the statement, which was signed by DCP Don Awunah for the police, and Garba Abdullahi for DSS.
“The public would recall that similar threats were issued during the May Labour Day and Democracy Day celebrations as well as the Ed-el-fitr holidays in July, 2016,” they said. “However, the security agencies were able to decisively disrupt and thwart the insurgents’ plan. In the same vein, while election is important, the security agencies cannot allow the peace of the country to be disrupted, and we will continue to remain vigilant and ensure consolidation of the successes gained in the current counter-insurgency fight.”
Making the appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission, the agencies said that while they remain mindful of the inconveniences the request may cause the various political stakeholders, the agencies were strongly resolved not to be distracted from “ensuring a peaceful and secured Nigeria now and always.”
Assuring the public that the security agencies will continue to remain focused and committed, they urged vigilance, saying that the attention of the agencies should be drawn to any unusual movements or actions by groups or individuals in their neighborhoods.
