Bauchi Police Arrest 47 With Guns During Bye-election

No fewer than 47 suspects were arrested on Saturday during the bye-election in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The suspects, who were allegedly armed with guns, cutlasses, and sticks, were reportedly posing as operatives of a state-owned security outfit.
According to the Bauchi State Police Command, the suspects were arrested across various polling units.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Nafiu Habib, said in a statement on Sunday.
“Following our deployment for election duty in Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA, 47 operatives claiming to be members of a state-owned security outfit were arrested within polling units.
“They were found in possession of guns, cutlasses, and sticks, in contravention of the Electoral Act and the security directives earlier issued,” the statement read.
The PPRO added that the suspects were immediately taken into custody, while firearms and other dangerous weapons were recovered from them.
Habib noted that the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the development and directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
He quoted the CP as describing the incident as a “blatant disregard for lawful directives and an attempt to undermine the electoral process.”
The command reiterated its commitment to ensuring a peaceful, credible, and hitch-free bye-election.
See more Punch stories on Google.
It warned that “any person or group, regardless of status, who attempts to disrupt the electoral process or cause a breach of peace will be decisively dealt with.”
The police also called on members of the public to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities to the authorities.
The Bauchi State Police Command had, in a statement issued on Friday, outlined security arrangements for the bye-elections in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area, and Sakwa State Constituency, Zaki Local Government Area.
In the statement, the command unequivocally declared that “state-owned security outfits, quasi-security agencies, private security guards, and vigilante groups are not allowed to participate in election security coverage.”
The command stated that only “statutorily recognised security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security are mandated to provide security for the elections.”