The Nigeria Police Force has initiated a search for politicians who are suspected of planning to disrupt the upcoming May 29 inauguration of President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima.
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, made this announcement during a press briefing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
The Inspector-General stated that the operation is being conducted in partnership with other security agencies, with a particular focus on intelligence officials. The objective of this initiative is to counteract subversive elements who are attempting to undermine the current peaceful environment in the country.
The Nigeria Police Force is committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring the successful inauguration of the President-elect and his vice. Efforts are being made to identify and apprehend those involved in any plots to disrupt the event, in order to safeguard the peace and stability of the nation.
Baba said, “Following the successful conclusion of the 2023 General elections, it has been observed that some major political actors that the outcome did not favour, have been issuing public threats that are directed at instigating actions to frustrate the Presidential inauguration ceremony on 29th May, 2023.
“The Nigeria Police and the national intelligence community have been closely monitoring the activities of these political elites as well as other elements who have formed themselves into unpatriotic brands whose only fantasy, in recent times, is to subvert our national security interests.
“In so doing, they seem to be bent on deploying extra-judicial and undemocratic means to truncate our democratic heritage in advancement of their narrow personal political considerations.
“The beauty of democracy lies not just in the freedom of the citizens to freely exercise their franchise within the electoral cycle. It is also hinged on the right of aggrieved political actors to submit grievances on the electoral outcome to the judicial process for consideration.”
According to the police boss, the security agencies will no longer accept any utterance capable of throwing the country into a turmoil, adding that any political actor who does not heed to the warning will be made to face the wrath of law.
The police chief added, “Ladies and gentlemen, the imperative of peace in our national life cannot be over-emphasized. Sustenance of peace and security is even more expedient at this stage in our national democratic transition.
“Consequently, while the Nigeria Police, in synergy with other security agencies and the intelligence community, continues to closely monitor the activities of these political elements, it has become expedient to make some clear statements.
“Firstly, the Nigeria Police hereby sternly warns all political actors with subversive agenda and their collaborators, particularly, their foot soldiers who they are exposing to political radicalization and extremism to, henceforth, jettison their on-going premeditated attempts to create tension within the national space with intention of derailing the 29th May 2023 Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.
“Secondly, any such persons, regardless of their political affiliations who continuously engages in acts that are inimical to our nation’s democratic and security interests should not be in doubt on the firm determination of the Nigeria Police.”
Speaker further he said that police
under his watch would “closely collaborate with the law enforcement family and the intelligence community to defend our democracy, keep the internal security order stable and optimally deploy our common unique assets towards guaranteeing the successful conduct of the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.”