End-of-year festivities: MINAT boss orders Governors to step up vigilance.

The confab is holding under the theme: “Administrative Authorities and Maintaining Law and Order in a Post-election Period”. 

Atanga Nji also tasked Governors to ensure a peaceful and secure voting process in the Sunday November 30, 2025, Regional Elections. 

Despite the limited electorate, he stressed that every precaution must be taken to ensure the safety of voters, ELECAM staff and equipment. 

He reminded administrators that criminal activities often spike during festive periods must be put under control.

Implementation of previous recommendations

Beyond security concerns, the Governors are also reviewing the implementation of recommendations of their last meeting.

Atanga Nji said these includes; close monitoring of political parties, Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, associations; combating hate speech, xenophobia; promoting peaceful coexistence and controlling urban disorder.

He added to the road map the supervision of the activities of commercial motorbike riders; strengthening intelligence gathering; overseeing traditional chiefdoms; and supporting ongoing development projects.

Over 1,200 persons arrested will face the music 

Minister Paul Atanga Nji also has disclosed that over 1,200 persons were arrested nationwide during post-election violence. He said the persons will be brought before the competent courts to answer for their crimes.

Atanga Nji disclosed that nationwide, some 1,243 protesters arrested in relation to the presidential election. Atanga Nji insisted that the persons were involved in gang looting, arson and vandalism and will be tried in competent courts.

The minister, however, condemned violence, vandalism and destruction of property that was recorded in some regions after results of the election were made public.

Atanga Nji nonetheless said: “The well-planned rebellion initiated by the bad loser candidate has miserably failed. I take this opportunity to congratulate the defence and security forces for their professionalism and composure in the face of multiple provocations by outlaws acting on orders from enemies of the Republic”. 

The minister revealed that most of those arrested during the post-election protests were minors within the age bracket of 12 and 17 years. 

He said those who took to the streets were under the influence of drugs and alcohol, adding that they attacked forces of law and order and attempted to undermine state authority.

The MINAT boss said after his visits to the Adamawa, Far North, North, Littoral, East, and West Regions, he can confirm that the atmosphere has improved.

Minister Atanga Nji noted that despite incidents reported in parts of the country after results of the October 12 poll were proclaimed, calm has returned nationwide.

Who was killed where?

He stated the post-election violence resulted in: one protester killed in the West Region; three in the East; three in the North; nine in the Littoral and four deaths in the Littoral Region due to a stampede. Atanga Nji declared that no deaths were recorded in Adamawa and the Far North regions.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3637 of Wednesday November 26, 2025