THE Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the September 12, election in Edo state to allow security agencies check threat posed by terrorists and extremists.
Addressing a joint press conference at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, on Wednesday the spokesman of the police force, Don Awunah, said the two agencies gave credible intelligence that terrorists and extremists plan to carry out attacks between 12th and 13th of September.
He said that credible intelligence available to the agencies indicated plans by insurgent and extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and soft targets.
Awunah said that Edo was among the states being earmarked for the planned attacks by the extremists between Sept. 12 and 13 respectively.
He said that while election was important, security agencies cannot allow the peace of the country to be disrupted.
“We will continue to be vigilant and ensure consolidation of the successes gained in the current counter-insurgency fight.
“It is in these regard that we we are appealing to INEC which has the legal duty to regulate elections in the country to consider the need for possible postponement of the date of the election,” he said.
He said that the postponement would afford security agencies to deal decisively with the envisaged terrorist threats.
“While the police and DSS remain mindful of the inconveniences this request may cause stakeholders, it is our strong resolve that security agencies need not to be distracted from ensuring a peaceful Nigeria,”he said.
The spokesman assured Nigerians that security agencies in the country would continue to remain focused and committed.
“The attention of security agencies should be drawn to any observed unusual movements or actions by groups or individuals in your neighbourhoods,”he said.
