The Nigerian Military High Command has cautioned anyone attempting to disrupt President Muhammadu Buhari’s handover to Bola Tinubu on May 29 to abandon the plan.
It also hinted at the formation of a board of inquiry to probe claims made against its sector commander, Operation Safe Haven, by the Atyap people in Kaduna State’s Zangon Kataf local government area under the auspices of the Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA).
At a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the director of defence media operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, said the military has seen no reason why the president-elect’s inauguration should be postponed, adding that the police and other security agencies are working together to counter any threat.
He stated that military personnel are constantly on alert to prevent any unfavorable events in the country before, during, and after the transition, which is scheduled to take place at the end of the month.
“As far as internal security is concerned, the police still remain the lead agency. The armed forces and other security operatives are only playing a supportive role. I will reiterate that we are on standby to make sure that nothing unwanted happens.
“The issue of threat to the security and stability of the country is addressed promptly. Elections have come and gone. For the presidential election, a winner has been announced. There is a transition committee in place comprising all members of the security agencies, ministries and agencies of government to make sure the event is held successfully and without a glitch.
“We don’t see reasons why there should be a problem during the activity. The inauguration will come and go and nothing will happen. We are not going to relent at ensuring there is peace and stability across the length and breadth of the country,” the senior military officer said.
Recall that the Atyap people, through the Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), had criticized the sector commander of Operation Safe Haven in Southern Kaduna, Brigadier General Timothy Opurum, for his security report on the recent killings in the area, calling it biased, lopsided, unbalanced, and misleading.
As a result, the organization demanded that he be removed from the state.
However, in response to questions from journalists shortly after the bi-weekly press briefing, General Danmadami stated that the military is a national organization that is always willing to assist.
He asked state people to separate the military from any sort of sentiment, adding that any matter submitted to the high command against any of its soldiers will be thoroughly probed.
