Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has said there would be no military escorts for politicians especially retired military officers during the general elections.

He directed Commanders to ensure the restrictions of movement within their commands and also carry out a stop and search, anyone found culpable should be handed over to the police.

The Army Chief stated this at a meeting with principal officers and commanders of the Nigerian Army.

He said the Army is taking a proactive approach to stop election crimes such as ballot box snatching and violence.

He further directed Commanders to deal decisively with anyone caught doing anything that will be inimical to the success of the election.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier ordered security operatives to “deal ruthlessly” with anyone who attempts to snatch ballot box during the rescheduled general elections on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

The President said he had ordered security agencies to prepare to crack down on potential trouble makers during the rescheduled elections.

He said that he had briefed the law enforcement agencies and the military, who have identified the hot spots and flashpoints.

Buratai, however, warned that should any officer have any doubt as to his or her loyalty to the Nigerian state such a person has until February 22, 2019, to resign.

Also, Nigerian Army and the Police Force say they are investigating photos showing personnel signalling support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

A photo of three men in police uniform, two of whom were using their fingers to signal four more years for the President first made the rounds followed by another photo showing four men in military uniform doing the same thing.

In response to a tweet about the photo, the Police tweeted, “The IGP M.A Adamu has charged the Digital and Forensic Unit of @PoliceNG to investigate the authenticity of this photo, to ascertain whether it’s real or photo-shopped. The outcome of the investigation and appropriate actions will be made known to the public.”

Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim, also said the photo was being investigated.

In a short statement, he said, “The Defence Headquarters wishes to dissociate itself from the pictures of the four armed men dressed in military camouflage doing a 4-by-4 fingers sign connoting a campaign symbol of a political party.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is apolitical and remains apolitical. The pictures are being investigated to ascertain the true identity of the men in the photograph. If it is found out that they are military personnel, they will be sanctioned according to extant rules and regulations.”

The Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, also said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General, Tukur Buratai, has ordered that the photos should be investigated.