Ballot box snatchers will have themselves to blame – IGP

Ebun Francis|

Inspector General of police, Mohammed Adamu, has said that those planning to snatch ballot boxes or to be used as a tout one election day will have himself or herself to blame.

The IGP gave the warning while speaking with newsmen at the end of Tuesday’s security meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, “ballot snatching, ballot buying, thuggery will never be allowed” and that the police were ready to “protect Nigerians”.

President Buhari had on Monday at the opening of All Progressives Congress (APC) national caucus emergency meeting in Abuja, warned trouble makers to stay away from the polls or risk losing their lives.

Adamu said, “Today, members of the security community and intelligence community came and briefed Mr. President on the security situation in the country. We deliberated on the consequences and came up with the resolve to further provide adequate security within the country so that the electorates will come out and cast their votes without any fear of molestation.

“Every Nigerian is encouraged to come out on the election day and cast his or her vote without any fear of molestation. The security personnel are ready and prepared to protect everybody. Anybody that feels that he can come out and disrupt process should have a rethink because that situation will not be allowed. If you plan and allow yourself to be used as touts, whatever happens to you, you will take it.

“Ballot snatching, ballot buying, thuggery will never be allowed… anybody that is planning to snatch ballot boxes or planning to be used as a tout, will have himself or herself to blame on election day. So you better don’t allow yourself to be used.”