The Bauchi Police Command has arrested 47 persons allegedly posing as state-owned security operatives and carrying guns, cutlasses and sticks at polling units during the ongoing by-election in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The suspects were reportedly arrested as voting commenced in the Disina constituency on Saturday.
The arrests came despite the police command’s earlier warning that state-owned security outfits, vigilante groups, private security guards and other quasi-security agencies were not permitted to participate in the election security operation.
The command had said only security agencies recognised under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security were authorised to provide security during the by-election.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the spokesman of the command, SP Nafiu Habib, said the 47 suspects were arrested by police personnel deployed to polling units across Disina.
He said the suspects, who allegedly claimed to be members of a state-owned security outfit, were found with firearms and other dangerous weapons.
The police said the weapons, including guns, cutlasses and sticks, were recovered from the suspects, who were subsequently taken into custody.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Bauchi, for investigation and prosecution.
The command said the arrests were part of efforts to enforce the security guidelines issued ahead of the by-election in Disina and Sakwa state constituencies.
The police commissioner also warned individuals and groups against actions capable of disrupting the electoral process or causing a breach of the peace.
The command also urged residents of Shira and Zaki LGAs to remain peaceful and report suspicious activities to security personnel.
DAILY POST reports that the by-elections are being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA, and Sakwa State Constituency, Zaki LGA.
Bauchi by-election: Police arrest 47 suspected fake security operatives at polling units