The Niger Police Command has arrested 10 suspects over alleged electoral offences during the Saturday, Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections in different of parts of the state.
Alhaji Sabo Ibrahim, the State Commissioner of Police, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday.
Sabo said that the offences ranged from ballot snatching, unlawful possession of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), destruction of ballot papers and disruption of peaceful conduct at polling units.
He explained that the suspects were arrested at Lapai, Mokwa and Bida Local Government Areas of the State.
He said that all the suspects and exhibits were transferred to Force Headquarters, Abuja, for continuous investigation and prosecution.
The commissioner warned politicians against political violence during and after the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.
Ibrahim said that the command was committed to providing peaceful political atmosphere before, during and after the elections.
“We have sufficient personnel to be deployed to all polling units to provide adequate security during the voting exercise.
“Police will arrest and charge to court any politician or youth caught with dangerous weapons and perpetrating violence before during and after elections.
“We are fully prepared and committed to crisis-free gubernatorial elections in Niger State,” he said.
The commissioner said that already the police had put in place robust security measures in ensuring that the elections go peacefully in the state without threat to lives and property.
“I want to specifically advise parents to monitor the conduct of their children so as not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs in the forthcoming elections.
“This will not be tolerated as various security measures are already in place to guarantee peaceful political atmosphere for the implementation of the electoral process without hindrance.
“I wish to also solicit the cooperation of the public through the provision of timely and useful information to all divisions of the command to help us respond to distress calls on time,’’ he said. (NAN)