The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has warned Nigerians against taking up arms under the guise of protecting their votes during the 2027 general elections.
Keyamo cautioned that individuals who resort to violence, carry dangerous weapons or attack others while claiming to defend their votes could be lawfully neutralised by security operatives acting in the course of their duties.
The minister stated this in a post on his X account on Tuesday, reiterating a position expressed by former President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 general elections, which he said he supported.
He accused some politicians of encouraging citizens and suspected thugs to engage in electoral violence while allegedly ensuring the safety of their own children by sending them abroad.
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“After safely ferrying their children abroad, some unscrupulous politicians are encouraging hapless citizens and thugs to take up weapons to kill one another under the pretext of ‘protecting their votes’,” he said.
Referring to Buhari’s warning ahead of the 2019 elections, Keyamo argued that law enforcement agents were justified in taking action against individuals who resorted to self-help, carried dangerous weapons and attacked others under the pretext of protecting their votes.
He added that those contemplating such actions should understand the possible consequences of confronting security operatives.
Keyamo further alleged that the children of politicians encouraging electoral violence would be watching events from safe locations outside the country.
“Having been forewarned, you can then go ahead and exercise your options. CHIKENA!!” he added.