The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 47 people allegedly posing as members of a state-owned security outfit during Saturday’s bye-election in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area.
The suspects were reportedly arrested at different polling units while allegedly carrying guns, cutlasses and sticks.
According to the police, the arrests followed the deployment of officers to provide security during the election.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, said the suspects claimed to be members of a state-owned security outfit but were not authorised to participate in election security operations.
The command had earlier warned that state-owned security outfits, quasi-security agencies, private security guards and vigilante groups were not permitted to provide security at the polling units.
The police said only security agencies recognised under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security were authorised to provide security coverage for the bye-election.
Despite the warning, the 47 suspects were allegedly found within polling units in possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons.
The suspects were taken into custody, while the weapons recovered from them were retained as exhibits.
The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.
The commissioner condemned the alleged violation of the security directive and described the incident as an attempt to undermine the electoral process.
The police command said it remained committed to maintaining peace during the bye-election and warned individuals or groups against actions capable of disrupting voting or causing a breach of public order.
The command also urged residents to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
Source: https://yaroinsider.ng/bauchi-police-arrest-47-over-illegal-security-presence/
