The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur
Buratai, has ordered formation commanders in
the South-east to clampdown on members of
the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and
other splinter groups in the region threatening
to disrupt the 2019 Elections.
He gave the order while speaking at the Chief
of Army Staff Operations Conference, a
meeting which brought together the army’s
apex administrative and operational
commanders nationwide.
The COAS disclosed that the military had
information that “unpatriotic groups aided by
foreign conspirators†were planning to scuttle
the conduct of the 2019 General Elections.
Buratai said, “I have issued directives for
Operation Safe Conduct of the 2019 General
Elections. The army has produced a code of
conduct handbook for personnel to guide them
during the elections and copies have been
distributed to all formations. The activities of the
outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra and their
splinter groups in the South-East part of the
country is gaining momentum as the groups are
threatening to disrupt the 2019 electoral
process. Their excesses must, therefore, be
clamped down on immediately.
“Furthermore, the political clashes in Taraba State
and a few other states call for enhanced liaison
between commanders, the Nigeria Police and
other security agencies in order to de-escalate
tension as quickly as possible.
“We have information of subversive motives by
some unpatriotic groups aided by foreign
conspirators to scuttle the peaceful conduct of
the 2019 General Elections in some parts of the
country. We hereby warn such detractors to
immediately mend their ways. The army is
working closely with the police and other security
agencies to ensure an enabling environment for
the citizens to exercise their civic rights. In this
regard, General Officers Commanding and field
commanders at all levels are to deal decisively
with any form of security breach.
