Nigerians have taken to social media to react to President Muhammadu Buhari’s threat that anybody that attempts to snatch ballot boxes in the rescheduled general election would pay with their lives.
Buhari made the comment at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus Meeting on Monday.
The president also said he had directed security agencies to deal “ruthlessly” with election ballot box snatchers and election riggers.
He said, “I am going to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system, he would do it at the expense of his own life.”
Read Also: Buhari vows death to ballot box snatchers
However, some Nigerians have taken to Twitter to express divergent opinions on the president’s comment.
Read comments monitored by our reporter:
For the records, this is what a ballot box snatcher looks like.
No, He is not selling puff puff. Snatch a ballot box at your own peril. #ballotboxsnatcher
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/y2crxcGcUh
— Amir Salisu King Jr. (@Blazes51) February 18, 2019
This is simply an excuse to shoot whoever they want. After you die they will put ballot box next to your body. https://t.co/rRT8SFD0bR
— Dr Uche (@nnabros) February 18, 2019
Ehn The ballot box snatchers say them no do again? pic.twitter.com/jEaADBNViT
— Uwabor Henry (@Henryuwabor) February 18, 2019
"Only ballot box snatchers should be afraid "
Just like only armed robbers complained about SARS right? Idiots
— Ayobami (@dondekojo) February 18, 2019
I hope ballot box snatching is not part of their Dubai Strategy because if it is, we will shoot them oh!
— Ayekooto (@DeeOneAyekooto) February 18, 2019
Sections 118 and 129 of the Electoral Act clearly spell out two years in prison for ballot box snatching and this merchant of death is inciting voilence. #BuhariPreachesViolence #BuhariMustGo #AtikuWillWin #AtikuOurPresident #AtikuIsBetter @EUEOMNigeria19 @USEmbassyAbuja pic.twitter.com/sEZ6TulDNo
— Dee🇳🇬🇿🇦 (@DeclanIfeanyi1) February 18, 2019
If I go out to vote peacefully, and an irrational person attempts to snatch a ballot box, I run the risk of being hit by a stray bullet.
— Ogens (@ogens2) February 18, 2019
Idc! You should only be angry if you are planning to snatch ballot box.
— Habeeb Ayoade (@TheGreatHabeeb) February 18, 2019
You are angry because @MBuhari issue death threat to election riggers and ballot box snatchers.
The question is do you have plans to rig or snatch ballot box? 🤷🏼♂.
If you do, your bullet is cooling off in the arm arsenal.
Dazzol#SnatchAtYourOwnRisk
— oluwafemi ADENIYI (@femiadeniyi_) February 18, 2019
Buhari is calling for the death of ballot box snatchers, yet he snatched a whole democracy in 1983
— Hamma (@HAHayatu) February 18, 2019
Ballot box snatching is an electoral offence under Ss 118 & 129 EA 2010 and it fetches 2yrs imprisonment. It doesn't call for summary execution. One day soon we'll wake up to this tyrant ordering soldiers to kill peaceful protesters! Wait & see. https://t.co/MuiB0wc51l
— Great Oracle (@AbdulMahmud01) February 18, 2019
#snatchatyourownrisk snatch ballot box to create chaos and undermine our system do so at your own risk 🤷♀️
— kennygee babe (@kennygee_70) February 18, 2019
Which is better for a President to say:
"whoever snatches a ballot box would face the wrath of the law"
OR
"Whosoever snatches ballot boxes or disturbs the voting system, during elections will do so at the expense of his own life.".
In an election week with so much of tension
— Tosin Olugbenga (@TosinOlugbenga) February 18, 2019
To snatch a Ballot Box, you must carry weapons
If you carry weapons against a security operative, your are a threat to lives and property
If you are a security threat, security agents are expected to do ANYTHING NECESSARY to nullify the threat
Gaskiya!
— MaskUpNigeria (@iameneji) February 18, 2019
No vex, on Saturday, go and snatch ballot box, then quote the law. We will raise hashtags for you sha… https://t.co/M5tua0KgA3
— The Godfather JP (@AyoOyalowo) February 18, 2019
“You rig. You die”
Those of you parroting this arrant nonsense and repeating it without any recourse to your brain processing it first,
when a police man kills your family or your friend by Saturday and labels him a ballot box snatcher, make sure you maintain this same energy.
— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🛂 (@DrOlufunmilayo) February 18, 2019