President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Security Council (NSC) met on Thursday where they raised security concern over pre-election and post-election violence ahead of 2019.
They were concerned about the stockpiling of weapons by desperate politicians across the country.
The meeting was held behind close door at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, and was presided over by Buhari.
A statement by the Minister of Defence, Brig. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), after a meeting said disgruntled elements were bent on taking laws into their hands at the slightest opportunity.
The minister said: “The meeting also discussed attempt to put pressure on electoral body by some notable personalities through demonstrations which was brought under control by combine efforts of security agencies to avoid being hijacked by hoodlums or bandits.
“Another area of security concern includes post-election violence, as desperate politicians may whip up ethno-religious sentiments to create security situation in the country.
“Also of concern is the proliferation and stockpiling of weapons by some disgruntled elements with a desire to take laws into their hands at the slightest opportunity.’’
The minister said the meeting, however, recommended the deployment of security agencies to states for peaceful conduct of the elections.
Dan-Ali said the deployment would further douse tension created by the outcome of the political parties’ primaries and some desperate persons to sabotage the electoral process.
He said the council called for “concerted efforts of all security agencies to ensure that 2019 elections are hitch free’’.
The minister stated that the council stressed the need for continuous sensitisation of the public by National Orientation Agency (NOA) and regular meetings of relevant stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), international/local observers and the media ahead of the elections.