By Sadiq Umar – President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security agencies to deal ruthlessly political thugs that might want to snatch ballot boxes in the next Saturday general elections, even as he told party leaders that he is not afraid of losing election.
Mr. Buhari warned political thugs that anybody who snatches ballot boxes during the elections can only do so at the risk of his or her life.
Speaking during the emergency national caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party secretariat in Abuja, he said he had directed the military to deal ruthlessly with anybody found wanting during the elections.
“I do not expect anybody to make any disturbance. I have briefed the law enforcement agencies and the military to identify hotspots and flash points. They should be prepared to move. They too would have made their own arrangement as possible,” Mr. Buhari said.
Adding: “And anybody who decides to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb it. (elections), maybe that would be the last unlawful action he would take. I have directed the police and the military to be ruthless.
“We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections. I want Nigerians to be respected, let them vote whoever they want across the parties. I’m not afraid. As you said, I have gone round all the 36 states and Abuja. I think I have got enough support across the country.
“I’m going to warn anybody who thinks, he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system, he would do it at the expense of his own life,” Buhari warned.
