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Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has backed the use of force against people who attack others with dangerous weapons under the guise of protecting their votes.
In a post on his official X account, Keyamo warned against electoral violence and accused some politicians of encouraging supporters to take up arms while keeping their own children safe abroad.
He maintained that claims of vote protection would not excuse attacks on other people.
“When you resort to self-help and you take up dangerous weapons in the guise of ‘protecting your votes’ and you attack anybody, it is lawful and legitimate for law enforcement agents to ‘neutralise’ you or simply ‘put you down’ in the course of their duty,” Keyamo wrote.
The minister alleged that some political leaders had moved their children overseas while mobilising vulnerable citizens and thugs to engage in violence at home.
He accused such politicians of exposing ordinary Nigerians to danger without placing their own families at similar risk.
“And the children of the politicians will be watching your foolishness from their safe haven somewhere in the world,” he added.
Keyamo recalled a warning issued by former President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 general elections, saying he supported the position at the time and continued to stand by it.
He urged those contemplating violence to consider the consequences, warning that they had been forewarned and would have to decide how to conduct themselves.
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