A Northern pressure group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has cautioned security agencies against any act of intimidation or harassment of voters at the polling units for no just cause.

A statement issued by National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, on Friday in Kaduna, a copy e-mailed to our correspondent, called on the police in particular and other security agencies to provide adequate security to both INEC staff and voters and also maintain law and order during and after elections.

“There should be no act of intimidation or harassment of voters at the polling units by the security agents for no just cause,” the statement said.

He said the extended period afforded the military and other security agencies to launch offensive onslaught on the Boko Haram insurgents thereby routing them out of their hideouts and occupied towns in the affected states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

“The period also enabled INEC to distribute more permanent voter cards (PVCs) to eligible voters and also prepare adequately for the rescheduled elections,” ACF said.

ACF appreciated the peace initiative of the Gen Abubakar Abdulsalami’s Peace Committee by committing the two leading contenders for the presidential seat in the persons of President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP and Gen Muhammadu Buhari of the APC to appeal to their party members and supporters for peaceful conduct of elections and to accept the outcome in the interest of Nigeria and development of democracy.

The Forum urged youth not to engage in acts of hooliganism, arson or violence that will jeopardise the process of smooth conduct of elections or even allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians to truncate our hard earned democracy.

“ACF wishes all Nigerians peaceful elections and appeal to the contestants to accept the wishes of the people as expressed through the ballot box in a free, fair and credible,” the forum added

•Photo shows ACF