Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that his government would not tolerate any action promoting crime and insurrection in the country.

In a major reaction to the rising wave of attacks, especially on government facilities in the south-eastern part of the country, Mr Buhari vowed to shock those working to destroy the system.

He also asked the head of security agencies to rise to the challenges confronting the country, according to a statement.

His reaction followed a briefing by the head of Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, whose offices in parts of the south-east were burnt down by unknown arsonists.

Police stations have also been targeted, with many policemen killed in attacks blamed on gunmen.

Separatist groups in the region have been agitating for a breakaway state. Similar demands led to a 1967-70 civil war, in which more than three million people were killed.

Mr Buhari, who is a veteran of the Biafran war, noted that those he described as “misbehaving are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the war”.