Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has directed security agencies to immediately investigate the disruption of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Lafia on Nov. 4.
He urged the security agencies to ensure that everyone found responsible was brought to account.
The governor gave the directive on Thursday during an expanded security meeting held at the Government House, Lafia.
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Sule described the incident as a serious security breach, noting that the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, attended the rally on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.
“The embarrassment was not to the state or the presidential campaign council alone.
“It was an embarrassment to the Vice President on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is the reason why we cannot take it lightly,” he said.
Sule directed security agencies to invite and question all those suspected of playing a role in the incidents, regardless of their former positions or status.
He said the investigation should go beyond arresting a few youths, insisting that those who allegedly planned and sponsored the disruption should also be identified.
“We cannot, at the end of the day, after having such an embarrassment, just go and arrest five or six Almajiris and say that is the end of it. It will not work.
“The people responsible for this must be called to order,” he said.
The governor also expressed concern over reports that some individuals had planned to disrupt the rally, as well as the attack on the Vice President’s convoy.
He questioned the circumstances surrounding the use of tear gas at the venue, particularly around the podium, and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of security personnel during the incident.
Sule commended the military, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their intervention.
He said he had summoned the meeting to ensure that all concerns were properly presented before further action was taken.
He warned against allowing political disagreements to degenerate into violence.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Dr Labaran Magaji, said the meeting was convened to examine the security lapses and incidents surrounding the presidential campaign rally.
Magaji recalled that ahead of the rally, Sule had convened an expanded meeting of the local organising committee on Nov. 2, where security chiefs briefed the government on their preparations.
Magaji also said that the security agencies assured that adequate security arrangements had been made before, during and after the rally.
He said the governor also maintained regular contact with security chiefs and monitored preparations to ensure a peaceful event.
He said the intervention of the military, DSS and NSCDC was necessary to restore order.
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