Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday said the deployment of armed security operatives, including soldiers to Osun State for Saturday’s governorship election was to prevent breakdown of law and order before, during and after the governorship election.
The ruling party in the state, All Progressives Congress (APC) had accused the federal government of deploying the security operatives to intimidate the people of the state so that they will not turn out en masse for the election on August 9.
Obanikoro, at a briefing in Osogbo, however said the soldiers deployed to the state were not to intimidate people, but to ensure peace in all parts of the state. He noted that the main rationale behind the deployment of the security agents was for maintenance of peace and orderliness.
He spoke against the backdrop of alleged victimisation of residents of the state by the armed security operatives, saying “those you are seeing are trained security personnel who are after peace in the country,” Obanikoro said.
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