APC Reacts To Withdrawal Of Security Agents From Border

The country’s main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the withdrawal of Customs, Immigration and other security personnel from the country’s border posts in Kebbi and Katsina States.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed

The party’s reaction was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a copy obtained by Vanguard.

The party which wondered the purpose the directive was meant to serve lamented that the verbal directive led to the total withdrawal of the stated personnel from the border posts in the two states, leaving the posts unguarded.

APC in the statement asked who gave the order and for what purpose, demanding that the Federal Government should immediately explain to Nigerians what happened.

“It will not be enough for the government to tell Nigerians that it is not aware of such a development, because that will be more egregious than what happened in the first instance, and will amount to the government not being able to secure the country’s borders. It is also necessary to tell Nigerians how many states were affected by such orders. We were only made aware of two, but there is the possibility that the directive could have been more widespread,” APC said.

The opposition party pointed out that with no one left to guard the borders in the affected states for as long as the directive lasted anything could have happened.
 

“Who gave the verbal order? Was the order given verbally so that there will be no evidence of it? Were the Customs, Immigration and other security personnel ordered away to allow the free entry of contraband goods, election materials, weapons, terrorists or what? Even with our borders manned, Boko Haram terrorists have been marauding freely along the border areas. Will this illegal order not worsen the security situation, at a time the government is giving Nigerians the assurance that it will deal Boko Haram a mortal blow within six weeks?” the party queried.
The party said the development is coming a day after leaflets were allegedly distributed in Gombe telling people to stay away from polling booths on election days, raises more fears over the ongoing scheming by President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration and the PDP to make sure the rescheduled elections do not hold.

“In pursuit of this objective, these band of desperate people will do anything, including threatening the very existence of the country. Nigerians must not allow them,” APC said.

Meanwhile, the opposition party had earlier lambasted the Assistant Inspector General of police, Joseph Mbu, over his comment on February 12 about the forthcoming elections.

loading...