Perpetrators of violence will be dealt with ---- Minimah

(Nigeria) The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, on Wednesday  in Abuja warned perpetrators of election violence to desist from the act or be dealt with.

Minimah gave the warning while answering questions from newsmen at the monthly press briefing organised by the Directorate of Army Public Relations.

He said the Armed Forces, the Police and other security agencies had made adequate arrangements for security during the elections.

``I do not envisage any issue because this is just an election and it will come and go. I will appeal to politicians and their followers to keep the peace, maintain the peace and ensure a violence-free election.

``I will appeal to law abiding Nigerians  to come out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation, without fear for their safety, it is their right to vote. And whoever wants to invoke or provoke violence, will meet organised violence waiting for him,” the chief of army staff said.

Col. Sani Usman, Acting  Director of Army Public Relations, said the successes being recorded by troops in the North-East  and in other operations  were hinged on discipline, patriotism and professionalism.

Usman said in order to increase its capacity, the army had continued to acquire new equipment  to prosecute the ongoing campaign against the Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements.

He said troops were now being trained locally and overseas in the handling of the newly-acquired equipment  and to increase capacity.

``In some cases, this training has been conducted in-theatre  by foreign instructors. I believe this has given rise to the false report about mercenaries in the North-East.

``Futhermore,  pre-induction training of troops  in some selected military training institutions  is also ongoing after which troops will be deployed to the theatre of operation.

``In addition, seminars and workshops on modern operations planning for officers and soldiers at Division and Brigade levels as well as subscription on courses particularly on improvised explosives Devices and Counter Terrorism training are ongoing.

``All these are geared toward ensuring that troops are efficient and effective in discharging their assigned roles in furtherance of the Nigerian Army fulfillment of its constitutional mandate,” he said.

The army spokesman also said the army had commenced payment of scholarship entitlement to children and dependants of all deceased personnel who died in active service.

He said the payment started in February and was scheduled to be completed at the end of March.

Usman also said that the attention of the army had been drawn to an impostor on Facebook allegedly with the name Kenneth Tobia Minimah, believed to be operated by one Emmanuel Monday.

He said the impostor had been using the name of the chief of army staff to dupe unsuspecting members of the public by soliciting for money on facebook.

``Please be informed that the Chief of Army Staff does not operate any facebook account or any of the social media for that matter,’’ he said.