Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said about 24 armed political thugs were arrested in Keffi, Nasarawa State while warning against thuggery ahead of the 2023 elections.
The suspects are said to be loyal to a senatorial candidate in Nasarawa State. In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Tuesday, the police said eight pump action guns, two locally-made revolver guns, 37 rounds of live cartridges, four bulletproof vests, and 27 mobile phones were recovered from the suspects.
“In line with this mandate, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Keffi Area Command of the Nasarawa State Command, acting on credible and actionable intelligence have arrested twenty-four suspected political thugs at Minki Suites, along Keffi-Akwanga Road.
“The thugs suspected to be loyal to an aspirant in the Nasarawa West Senatorial primaries came into the hotel in a convoy of seven private vehicles. “Items recovered from the arrested suspects include; eight (8) pump action guns, two (2) locally made revolver guns, thirty-seven (37) rounds of live cartridges, four (4) bulletproof vests, twenty-seven (27) mobile phones, two (2) pairs of vigilante uniforms, five (5) cutlasses, ten (10) assorted knives, criminal charms, and other incriminating objects.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects, who are thugs for hire, carry out their heinous acts under the guise of being members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN),” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ahead of the 2023 general elections, approved the establishment of Electoral Offences Desk at the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Force Headquarters, Abuja. According to Adejobi, the Commissioner of Police, FCID, is the Desk Officer.
The IGP has equally approved the establishment of the Desk at State Commands across the nation with the Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Departments as State Desk Officers.
“The mandate of the Electoral Offences Desk Officers includes the collation and investigation of all electoral offences/complaints from members of the public or any quarters, with a view to determining culpability in line with the amended Electoral Act 2022, and proffering charges before Courts of competent jurisdiction for necessary legal action.
Read Also: 2023 Presidency: SERA commends Northern Govs’ stance on power shift to South East
“The IGP tasked the Desk to commence its activities immediately with some isolated cases recorded during the pre-election activities such as screening, conventions, primaries, etc,” Adejobi said. Additionally, the IGP has also ordered the immediate transfer of the case involving the arrested suspects to the Electoral Offences Desk at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID). Adejobi said IGP Baba has ordered the FCID to effect, “the immediate arrest of the concerned aspirant for necessary investigative actions.”
The Police boss reiterated the commitment of the Force to stamping out threats to peaceful and credible elections at all levels, even as he vows to deal decisively with anyone caught engaging in political thuggery.
