CLEEN Foundation, a leading civil society organisation in Nigeria, Wednesday tasked security agencies on improved surveillance and intelligence gathering to tackle security challenges before, during and after the general elections.
Commissioning studies on “2023 Election Security Threats Assessment” in Abuja, the Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Gad Peter said his organisation was worried over rising insecurity and violence in the building up to the general elections in NIgeria and, therefore, had painstakingly carried out security assessment to proffer recommendations that would mitigate the security threats for a more credible and violence-free elections.
“CLEEN Foundation is worried over the unhealthy and divisive verbal attacks, hate speeches and criminal attacks on police, INEC offices, which if not firmly addressed may pose serious challenges to the elections, peaceful-coexistence and the unity of our beloved nation.”
Gad, however, tasked security agencies on improved surveillance and intelligence gathering to tackle security challenges before, during and after the general elections.
In his words in part, “The frequent serious attacks on security agencies, installations and infrastructure in recent months are highly worrisome and condemnable.
“The pattern of recent attacks on security facilities and INEC infrastructure is suggestive that they are facilitated by criminals who are bent on pushing the country off the cliff.
“The law enforcement agencies need to take measures to prevent further attacks to boost the confidence of voters before, during and after the general elections. It is important to note that as recorded by INEC the recent voter registration has recorded the largest number of voters registered in the history of our elections and we are afraid that resources might be wasted if the criminal attacks, threats and intimidation through violence and hate speeches lead to voter apathy.
“The threats to the elections must be addressed to counter all attempts at undermining the country’s effort towards consolidating democratic governance.
“Surveillance and intelligence gathering are some of the sophisticated methods that law enforcement authorities must continue to sustain to tackle security challenges before, during and after the general elections.”
