The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, declared yesterday that elections will hold in every part of Nigeria and that the Armed Forces, the Police and other security agencies were ready to defend democracy at all costs.
Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, quoted the CDS as urging Nigerians to discountenance any threat that elections would not hold in certain parts of the country “The Armed Forces of Nigeria is committed to strong and virile constitutional democracy. We are very loyal to the Nigerian state and are ready to defend democracy at all cost.
During the election periods, all our normal operations and duties will continue simultaneously across the country,” General Irabor was quoted as saying.
The Acting DDI spoke at a joint media briefing with the spokespersons of the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Service, DSS, as well as those of the Nigerian Air force and the Nigerian Navy. Disclosing that “Operation Safe Conduct” for the elections had been activated to provide guidance to Armed Forces of Nigeria during elections, Gusau said: “DHQ has established a monitoring team, in conjunction with other security agencies, that will oversee the process in FCT and the six geo-political zones in the country.
“Similarly, operations centres have been established in FCT and 36 state capitals of the federation to serve as quick response centres for all distress calls in the event of any breach of peace during the election period.
He re-echoed the warning of the CDS to undesirable elements that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies were ready to subvert any thr£ats to peace and tranquillity. “Strong force will be applied to those that want to cause a breach of public peace during the general elections. The Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, has adequately sensitized its personnel on their expected roles throughout the period.”
