The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah, and the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, yesterday briefed members of the diplomatic community on the readiness of the security agencies in the country to ensure a peaceful and credible elections.

They allayed fears of possible violence before, during and after the general elections.

The meeting, titled “Peace and Security: 2015 General Elections in Nigeria”, was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja. At least 100 foreign ambassadors serving in Nigeria were in attendance.

Suleiman said the Nigeria Police, charged with the responsibility of providing security along other security agencies, would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring peaceful polls.

He said his personnel have been adequately prepared for the elections based on the provision of the laws.

“For the personnel to take the issue of human rights seriously, we reduced some of these things into writing. We published standard operational guidelines for the elections to enable the officers to be mindful of the provisions of the laws. So, I want to assure the friends of this great nation that every effort is being made to ensure peace,” he said.

Suleiman, who assured that adequate number of officers would be deployed nationwide, said police would use non-legal weapons in handling any unforeseen circumstances.

“I want to assure you that arrangements have been made particularly to prevent any attempt to disrupt the conduct of the elections,” he added.

On his part, the Chief of Army Staff, Minimah, said the Army is well prepared to play its constitutional role in the forthcoming elections.

“The Nigerian Army believes in possibility. I know that in the whole of February, there was a lot of doubt and skepticism concerning the situation in the North-East, particularly in the states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. Before, Boko Haram was in firm control of 14 local governments, but as I speak now, they have only three. And I know also that within the next one week, there may be nothing left for them to control. We believe in possibility and if it is possible, it is doable,” he said.

Minimah, who was represented by the Director of Operations in the Nigerian Army, Major Gen Ijioma Nwokoro, said the military would do all within its reach, in collaboration with other security agencies, to ensure a violence-free election.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, said the present administration is committed to creating an enabling environment for peaceful and credible elections that will consolidate and deepen our democratic processes and development in Nigeria.

“I will like to particularly highlight that our government, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, is committed to creating an enabling environment for peaceful and credible elections that will consolidate and deepen our democratic processes and development in Nigeria,” he stressed.

According to him, government is conscious that Nigerians need and deserve timely and good elections.

“We are, therefore, strongly committed to ensuring the attainment of these expectations,” he said.

Wali also called on the envoys to support Nigeria towards delivering credible elections.

In his remarks, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Abba Moro, assured the envoy that the agencies in the ministry are committed to ensuring a peaceful and conducive environment for the elections.

According to him, the Nigeria Immigration Service has made plans to deploy officers at the Nigerian borders to ensure that no external interference, like insurgency, would disrupt the elections.

•Adapted from a Newswatch Times report. Photo shows Service Chiefs.

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