The Federal Government has issued a high alert to all security agencies after it uncovered plans by politicians to incite the public and trigger violence.
Military top brass, as well as the police, State Security Service (SSS), and others in the security apparatus have deployed personnel in specific areas, as the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) monitors the international scene.
Presidency sources confirmed on Monday in Abuja that National Security Adviser, Sarki Muktar, issued the order on behalf of President Umaru Yar�Adua, based on a meeting that reviewed �a damning security report.�
The �Extra-ordinary Meeting of the General Security Appraisal Committee� was held on February 25, attended by all heads of security agencies.
Those who attended included Chief of Defence Staff, General Andrew Azazi; Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro; NIA Director General; SSS Director General; CDI Director General; and Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa.
Yar�Adua and the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Baba Gana Kingibe, were said to have been informed of the meeting and later briefed on the outcome. They did not attend.
The invitation for the meeting, signed by Muktar, was dated February 22, and marked NSA/INT/366/1/S.
Yar�Adua approved the security build-up before he travelled to China last week.
Sources said apart from the Niger Delta, where more soldiers have been deployed, most operatives sent out are not in uniform.
One outcome of the meeting was the statement by Azazi last week that the military is solidly behind Yar�Adua and that it is ready to protect national peace and territorial integrity.
The source explained that Azazi�s position implied that the military would not allow itself to be used by anyone to achieve an aim that is not constitutional.
Said he: �It was this meeting that prompted the statement by (Azazi). The provoking reaction by the opposition political parties was for a purpose.
�They vigorously attacked (Azazi) and read stupid meanings into his statement so that they could be arrested and made popular. But we hope they understand that the military is not a political party.
�Part of their plans was that with street violence and demonstrations, the government would be overthrown by force as the military would respond with a declaration of a state of emergency. That was why Aziza spoke out.�
Another security official said part of the security report is that threats of assassination and malevolent plans against security have returned.
�Their game plan was to consist of planned massive unrest, disruption of court-ordered elections, and sabotage of electoral facilities and amenities.�
He said there was going to be a renewed onslaught on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through the disruption of election re-runs ordered by the courts.
�Arson and other acts of sabotage were to be carried out on the INEC. They had already printed thousands of T-shirts and face-caps with outrageous labels. This is a well-planned act of violence.
�Look at these (displaying a T-shirt and face caps). These things were all printed outside the country, so there is massive fund involved here. We needed to move to stop them.�
It was learnt that part of the plan was that a team of lobbyists, to be led by a popular former South East Senator, would go to Europe and America and seek international support in the wake of crisis.
A source in Aso Rock confirmed that the planned violence was to be carried out by opposition party elements with the connivance of some groups in and outside the country.
He said security agents in Nigeria and overseas had been monitoring the movements of the plotters before the ruling on the Presidential election last week.
�We knew their plans. We have infiltrated their ranks. They wanted to start with mass demonstrations nationwide using non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society groups.
�It would interest you to know that some of the people you media people are celebrating as architects of democracy are behind the plot which would have destabilised this country.
�We are still watching them. They are professionals who have sold their consciences to money and allowed themselves to be misled by one man�s ambition.
�There is a lot of money involved. Notable lawyers, civil society advocates and NGOs set up and funded by these politicians are to serve as vehicles for the violence. But they won�t succeed.�
Mar42008