Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Nigeria Police said manhunt had begun for politicians allegedly plotting to scuttle the May 29 inauguration of the President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, said the police and other security agencies were collaborating in the operation.
According to him, anyone involved in any activity capable of disrupting the peaceful transition in the country will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He said that the manhunt became necessary so as to tame subversive elements trying to destabilise the peaceful atmosphere in the country.
He advised Nigerians against any attempt to breach public peace, saying that such will not be condoned by security agencies.
The police boss accused those who were not favoured by the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll of making efforts to disrupt the forthcoming handover ceremony to the President-elect.
“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,” the IGP said.
Continuing he said: “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 radicalisation 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.”
