PLASIEC Preparations Exposed Security Threats

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BY CHAMBERLAIN ODEY, JOS – It has been gathered that real and serious threats to peace and security in some parts of Plateau State actually informed the advice of the State Security Council that compelled the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to suspend conduct of the local government councils’ elections that were billed to hold on February 17, 2018.

A source at the headquarters of the Plateau State Command of the Nigeria Police on Monday night described the details of the latest security report on the State as ” worrisome “, maintaining that ” no responsible government or security council would have allowed the elections go ahead when an intelligence report indicates clearly eminent dangers and plans by some unpatriotic elements to use the occasion to cause mischief “.

According to the source, given the benefit of hindsight, the security agencies in the State, as part of the build-up to the elections, intensified coordinated security surveillance across the state, and were particularly vigilante because of the violent clashes and insurgency activities in neighbouring States.

He said the report shows that some local government areas, especially in Plateau North and Plateau South senatorial zones, were rendered veritable flashpoints for violence, and the perpetrators have planned to factor into the opportunity of any disagreement or altercation to unleash such confusion that will cause breakdown of law and order with severe implications for peace.

He blamed part of the problem on ineffective border patrol and surveillance, a situation, he explained, underpin cross-border crimes and criminal fraternities, and providing opportunity for criminals to seek and take refuge in states or country other than theirs.

The report, he said further, indicates members of the notorious Boko Haram fleeing from military conquest and humiliation in the North-east, and armed militia group, known as Sara Suka have sneaked into hideouts in Jos North and the environs. While the security agencies are working hard to locate and comb the hideouts of these criminal elements, it is just advisable to put the elections on hold as these bad guys could hijack the process and plunge the state into avoidable crises.

Given the bloody activities of herdsmen and hoodlums in recent times, especially in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, it is feared that any breakdown of law and order now could escalate easily and degenerate into such sectarian commotion that will take a huge toll on human lives and the desired environment for social, political, and economic development.

He maintained that also contained in the report is anger among politicians in the different political parties arising especially from the internal processes that produced candidates for various positions in the same local government elections. He said reconciliation and party harmony are vital for a peaceful elections atmosphere. Angry and aggrieved politicians could explore a background full of criminal elements to commit mischief and all manner of electoral shenanigans.

However, reacting to the development yesterday, Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon Damishi Sango, described the action as premeditated and conjectured.

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