The federal government Wednesday
in Abuja, north-central Nigeria declared September 12-13, as public holidays
for the celebration of sallah.
But, the police and
Nigerian secret service say credible intelligence
availed the agencies indicate plans by insurgent/extremist elements to attack
vulnerable communities and soft targets.
Edo state, where the
governorship election was initially planned by the independent electoral
commission to hold Saturday, September 10, is among the states the extremists may
be targeting.
The police and DSS drew the
attention of members of the public to the fact that a similar threats were
issued during the May Labour Day and Democracy Day celebrations as well as the
Ed-el-fitre holidays, July 2016.
But, the security agencies said
they were able to decisively disrupt and thwart the insurgents’ plan.
According to the security
agencies, “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.
In a joint press statement
by Don Awunah, police public relations officer and Garba Abdullahi of the DSS,
the statement further stated that “it is in regard of these that we are
appealing to INEC which has the legal duty to regulate elections in the country
to consider the need for possible postponement of the date of the election in
Edo State in order to enable security agencies deal decisively with the
envisaged terrorist threats”.
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