At least, 6,000 soldiers have been deployed to Lagos State, following palpable tension which gripped residents of the area over alleged plans to attack non- indigenes barely five days to the 2023 Presidential election, if the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu loses in the poll.
There had been threats by known and unknown groups to unleash mayhem on non- indigenous residents of the state if the Yoruba political leader loses his life ambition to rule the country.
During the 2019 general election, areas inhabited mostly by non-indigenes came under deadly attacks as ballot boxes were openly snatched under the watchful eyes of security agents posted to the voting centers.
However, investigations showed that the threat became more pronounced after a viral audio of a meeting held by the Olowa and paramount ruler of Igbara-Oke kingdom in Ondo state surfaced, few days ago, where two men threatened some residents and traders to vote for the APC in the general elections or risk eviction from Eti-Osa area of Lagos State.
The audio lasts for 11 minute and 34 seconds. In the audio, a yet-to-be identified man and one other, were at a meeting with traders and residents of Gbara in Eti-Osa area of Lagos State. The people at the palace asked the traders for their PVC cards. The man asking for voters cards wanted to know how many people at the meeting had their PVC’s, but only about 20 answered in the affirmative.
The man was further heard saying, “I am sure, if we take the number of people here, we will not be less than 60, but we have 20 people that have PVC’s. What is happening to the rest?
“Because we are ready to fight. Yes, I am not hiding it. I have to be blunt. I have narrated everything to you. In the continent, we have Africa; out of that, we have West Africa.
“In West Africa, we find Nigeria. In Nigeria, there is Lagos. In Lagos, there is Eti-Osa; within Eti-Osa, we the Gbara community and, by the grace of God, in Gbara today, we can take our decision.
“If you have any other party in mind, as a Nigerian, I am not holding you, make sure that you are far from here.”
This audio generated wild condemnation prompting the police to invite the monarch for questioning.
But, while the issue was still raging investigations revealed that there were clandestine plans to re-assign Divisional Police Officers, DPO’s serving in some areas in Lagos state thickly populated by non-indegenes to other stations with the aim of replacing them with officers from South West or Yoruba states.
It was further gathered that in remote areas of the Lagos State, non indigenes, especially, those of Igbo extraction are openly being threatened if APC candidate, Tinubu fails to win the election.
In areas like Shasha, Igando, Isolo, Alagbado, Meran, Ikotun, Ago- palace Way, Dopemu, Iyana- Ikpaja, Ishaga, Iju, Aboru, Ojunri, Badagry, Mike 12, Ikorodu among others, non- indigenes are on edge following the continued threat of total annihilation during and after the elections.
As a result of this development, it was gathered that leaders of different communities residing in Lagos have been meeting with a view to alerting their subjects of the imminent threat and ways of saving their lives.
Some of the non indigenous people of Lagos were also said to be planning about how to safeguard their lives and properties in case of such attacks
Meanwhile, reliable security sources told Southeast Post that already, the orchestrated plan to post out non- indigenous DPOs was allegedly hatched at the seat of power (Government House), Alausa, Ikeja.
The plan was said to have reached an advanced stage as the postings will be effected before the presidential election takes place.
Military and police sources, however, hinted that the plan was to ensure that there will be no hindrance or hitches during clandestine schemings that would be carried out by agents of the ruling APC in the state.
It was said that already, the foot soldiers that will execute the operation have been mobilized and lectured on how to carry out the operation successfully, without any hindrance from security agents especially the police, hence the posting out of the non- indigenous DPOs.
It was learned that a homongous amount of money had already being stashed safely for the successful completion of the operation even as a top security officer that liaise between the police and a top government official at Alausa has been equipped and tutored on how to carry out the operation and compensate the foot soldiers including security agents specially assigned to various areas for the dirty job.
It is expected that top security officers in the state would be contacted and briefed properly on the operation which they have been keeping close to their chest until the last days of the election.
A senior security official who confided in Southeast Post recalled that during the 2019: general election in Lagos State, areas inhabited mostly by non-indigenes came under deadly attacks even as ballot boxes were openly snatched under the watchful eyes of security agents posted to the voting centers.
However, police sources said at the Police Headquarters in Abuja that relevant authorities including the Military were very much aware of the schemings to unleash mayhem against non- indigenous persons, especially in parts of Lagos State and cause a breach of the peace in areas dominated by non-indegenes adding that the Army and the police were poised to deal ruthlessly with anybody that poses a threat to the success of the presidential election in Lagos and other parts of the country.
According to military sources, soldiers had already been deployed to strategic places in Lagos to ensure security of lives and property during and after the elections.
According to police sources, “The Inspector General of Police, IGP, had been fully briefed about such devilish plans.”
According to top security sources, “security agencies will be equal to the task. Anybody or group of persons who disrupt(s) the election will see hell…
“If they venture to disrupt , intimidate or harass anybody during the election they will see hell.
“What happened during the 2019 election will not re-occur especially in Lagos State. Whether you are an indigene or not, if you cause any trouble, we will clamp down on you and deal with you according to the law. We are fully equipped to deliver a free, fair and hitch- free election come February 25, 2023.
“As you can see, already we have started posting security personnel to fortify the already existing security in Lagos. You saw our reaction when some unscrupulous persons wanted to unleash mayhem in Lagos, using the Naira redesign as cover. They did not succeed any will not succeed during the presidential election. We’re equal to the task,” the sources on Sunday.