NIGERIA: BUHARI’S AID SUGGESTS KILLINGS, INSECURITY ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED

Presidential aid, Garba SHEHU suggests that violence is politically motivated

NIGERIA: BUHARI’S AID SUGGESTS KILLINGS, INSECURITY ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED

72 days into the new year, about 1, 351 persons have been killed through violence across Nigeria, a Nigerian daily, Vanguard newspaper, has said.

Those deaths come from Boko Haram and herdsmen activities, mostly from the Northern part of the country, indicating a heightened security situation in Nigeria.

But Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told Channels TV that the security situation in Nigeria is a strategy being adopted by some politicians to ‘win election’ in 2019.

Shehu suggested that politicians are in some veils fuelling violence and getting people killed in order to discredit the government of President Buhari.

President Buhari is currently visiting some states where violence is high like Taraba, Benue, Plateau, Niger, Yobe, Rivers for the purpose of on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

The President, whose second term ambition is threatened by the spate of violence have started the series of visit from Taraba State on Monday; and he in Benue today.

A statement by presidential spokesman read, “In view of recent terrorist attacks, criminal activities and communal clashes in some states leading to tragic loss of lives and kidnapping of 110 schoolgirls, President Muhammadu Buhari immediately tasked the Armed Forces and other security agencies to compile comprehensive reports on the various incidents.

“Having received and studied the reports, the President has decided to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of the various occurrences and to meet and console the communities affected.

“From today, March 5, he will visit Taraba, and subsequently Benue, Yobe, Zamfara and Rivers states.

“President Buhari has been receiving daily briefings, and has been in constant touch with the governors, and has been updated with situation reports.

“The President calls on all Nigerians, especially those in the affected areas, to cooperate fully with the security agencies to enable them curb the spate of crimes, bring those responsible to justice and prevent further occurrences.”