Tinubu Orders Security Chiefs to Ensure Safe, Neutral Elections

President Bola Tinubu has instructed security agency chiefs to guarantee a safe environment for voters in January’s elections and to keep the forces neutral throughout the process, Defence Minister Christopher Musa said on Thursday.

Musa briefed State House correspondents after a security meeting chaired by the President at Aso Villa in Abuja, saying the session was called to review the security situation ahead of the polls.

“Mr. President made it very clear he wants a free, fair, and credible election. We must do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe and secure for the citizens to go out and vote,” Musa said.

The minister said all heads of security agencies took part in what he described as an intensive discussion, and that the President’s expectations were clearly conveyed.

“We are going to ensure that we give everybody opportunity to go and serve, so they have nothing to worry about, nothing to be afraid of, and that nobody is going to intimidate them for whatever reasons,” Musa said.

“It is important for all other political parties to ensure to understand that the security forces are going to be neutral.”

Defence Minister General Christopher Musa says President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to ensure a free, fair and credible election in January. He assures Nigerians that security forces will remain neutral and protect voters from intimidation.

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Musa said Tinubu directed security agencies to intensify operations to locate abducted persons and dismantle terrorist and bandit camps.

“The directive from the president is: all of us must go all out to fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped wherever they are. There shouldn’t be any camp of any terrorists or bandits anywhere in Nigeria,” Musa declared.

Asked about suggestions that minors were being recruited into the armed forces, Musa said the concern actually related to terrorists’ use of children.

“There is nobody that is underage that is being brought here. I think the discussion that was made was that the accusation was on the terrorists using underage,” he said.

“Well, we know that we don’t have control over what they do, and that’s why it’s important for us to understand that we must not allow them remain wherever they are.”

Attendees included National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Police Affairs Ibrahim Gaidam; Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle; and Special Adviser on Homeland Security Major General Adeyinka Famadewa (rtd).

Also present were Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; and Chief of Defence Intelligence Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye.

Others were Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu; NIA Director-General Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed; and DSS Director-General Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.