Buhari warns ballot box snatchers that they will lose their lives if they attempt to rig elections

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the military and law enforcement agencies to deal ruthlessly with anyone caught trying to disrupt the rescheduled February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Speaking this morning at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national caucus meeting in Abuja this morning, President Buhari warned that that anyone caught ballot box snatching or leading thugs would do so at a risk to his life. President Buhari, who is seeking re-election, said he was not afraid of a free and fair elections because he has received the overwhelming support of the majority of Nigerians.

“I do not expect anybody to make any disturbance and I have briefed the law enforcement agencies and the military to identify hot spots, flashpoints and they should be prepared to move. Anybody who decides to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb elections, maybe that would be the last unlawful action he would take.

“I have directed the police and the military to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections. I want Nigerians to be respected," President Buhari added.

He pointed out that he has gone round all the 36 states and Abuja and has gotten enough support across the country. President Buhari had called the meeting to discuss the recent decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to postpone the elections by a week.

President Buhari told party delegates: “I am going to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system, he would do it at the expense of his own life.”