Okafor Ofiebor /Port Harcourt
Ahead of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections on Saturday, March 9, a security expert and former Special Adviser to ex- Rivers state governor, Peter Odili, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, has warned youths in Rivers State bearing illegal arms to disrupt elections to be prepared for the dire consequences from the military.
Sara-Igbe, who is also a spokesman of Pan-Niger Elders Forum, PANDEF, warned militant youths who have been armed by politicians to desist because the executive order issued by President Muhammadu Buhari, to the Armed Forces against ballot box snatchers and riggers of elections subsists.
The security expert who is a former operative of State Security Services, SSS, condemned the unprovoked attack on the military at Abonnema in Akuku-Toru local government area where a Lieutenant and two other soldiers were killed by suspected hired political thugs during and after the presidential election.
He spoke during a live radio programme in Port Harcourt monitored by our Correspondent.
He stated that what happened in Abonnema was avoidable and commended the soldiers for their restraint in the face of provocation.
Sara-Igbe, a prominent Chief from Akuku-Toru local government was appraising the security breach in Abonnema that led to the desertion of the community out of fear of reprisal attack from angry soldiers said, “Abonnema people should count themselves lucky for the restraint exercised by the military in face of unwarranted provocation and killing of Soldiers. You dare not kill a soldier at peace time and go scot free. It is never done.
“When you kill a soldier who comes in peace unprovoked, you have directly challenged the federal government. President Buhari is humane because he did not present a memo on this matter to the Federal Executive Council. You can be killing yourselves. But when you kill a soldier or police officer, you have decided to test the will state.”
He pointed out that the soldiers who were attacked were merely shooting into the air.
On the criticisms against the use of the military during elections, he said: “With the peculiar nature of Nigeria and how some Nigerian politicans relied on rigging to win elections, the military must be there to prevent insecurity during elections. Why should civilians carry guns and snatch ballot boxes?”
Meanwhile, residents of Abonnema who fled the community are gradually returning after the assurances of the Paramount ruler the Amanyanabo of Abonnema Kingdom, His Majesty, King (Barr.) Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel Owukori (ix), that the military will not harass any innocent persons.