Govt uncovers plans to attack polling centres

MEMBERS of the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram, and their allies have perfected plans to attack polling centres in the forthcoming general election, the Federal Government has revealed.

   The Coordinator of National Information Centre (NIC), Mike Omeri, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on government’s latest efforts in the fight against insurgency.

   According to him, “recent intelligence reports indicate that some unscrupulous Nigerians have perfected plans to surreptitiously collect, buy or steal the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) of female voters, hand over same to female suicide bombers and create access for them into polling centres, where they will detonate bombs and kill unsuspecting voters.

   “By this information, therefore, Nigerians, especially female voters, are warned to remain vigilant and also jealously guard and preserve their PVCs to avoid their possibility of being lost to these bad elements, who will put them to untoward uses.”

   Omeri also disclosed that the 7,500 Africa Union (AU)-backed multinational force would comprise troops from countries in the Lake Chad Basin Commission areas.

   “The modalities for the operationalisation of this force are being worked out at a tactical summit which started today in the Republic of Cameroun,” he said. “In addition, the Chadian Chief of Defence Staff is currently in Nigeria to consolidate discussions on trans-border operation with his Nigerian counterpart.

   He explained that reported successes and offensives by armies of the various countries are results of Nigeria’s country-to-country bilateral agreements with its neighbours to enhance coordination in the fight against insurgencies in the region.