Kano Police Command has charged about 333 suspected political thugs arrested during last Saturday’s bye-election in court for electoral offences.
Police Commissioner Ibrahim Adamu Bakori in Kano disclosed the development while addressing journalists on the update of security operations in the Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa state constituencies on Monday.
Bakori confirmed that cases of violence, orchestrated by those he described as “unscrupulous Individuals” imported to disrupt the electoral process, were eventually intercepted.
According to the CP, a large influx of thugs armed with dangerous cutlasses, pump-action rifles, and locally made pistols, intended to obstruct the election, was stopped by joint security operatives.
Although the CP was silent on their political affiliation, he insisted that those arrested are being charged with disorderly conduct, possession of offensive weapons, intimidation, snatching, and destruction of election materials.
“The elections, which were conducted under challenging circumstances, witnessed attempts by unscrupulous individuals to disrupt the process through the massive importation of thugs from within and outside the state.
“However, through the steadfast efforts of the Kano State Police Command and our partner security agencies during the election process in Ghari, Bagwai and Shanono LGAs, a total of three hundred and thirty-three (333) suspects were apprehended.
“These suspects were arrested for disrupting the electoral process, and exhibits recovered include Pump Action Rifle, Locally Made Guns, clogs, Swords, Cutlasses and Locally Made ‘Barandami’ Weapons and four million four hundred forty-eight thousand naira (N4,048,000.00) cash.
“All the arrested suspects have been charged in Magistrate Courts 20,27, 44 Nomansland Kano and Magistrate Courts Number 8 and 53, Gyadi-Gyadi Kano today for prosecution under various electoral offences,” CP Bakori noted.
He stated that the Kano State Police Command is committed to ensuring that justice is served and that those who seek to undermine our democratic process are held accountable
