Police arrest suspects in Bauchi violence, others

THE Nigeria Police has arrested some suspected political thugs in Bauchi and other states, alleged to have perpetrated acts of violence against opposing political groups in the course of the ongoing campaigns ahead of the February general elections, even as the Police leadership has ordered for the immediate prosecution of those arrested.

    Following the orders by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba that those who bring about any form of disorder in the course of any political campaign should be arrested, “Some suspects have been arrested in connection with perpetration of violence during political campaigns at different locations” of the country, a Police statement said.

    Police spokesperson Emmanuel Ojukwu in a telephone chat with The Guardian confirmed, “some suspects have been arrested in some parts of the country, including Bauchi, Katsina, Edo, Sokoto and other states where such unpleasant incidences had occurred.

    “They are those who in one way or the other are suspected to be responsible for the mayhem at some of the campaign venues across the country, I can not give the number right now but there has being some arrests and there would be more arrests if the trend continues. It does not matter who is involved, once you are suspected to be responsible for the untoward acts, no matter your position in the society, you will be charged to court, no one is above the law,” Ojukwu said.

    The statement said that the directive Abba gave to the Zonal formations and State commands “to crack down on Political thugs and miscreants perpetrating mayhem and causing an untold discomfort for supporters and actors of opposing political parties in the on-going political campaigns”

    This according to the statement is “contrary to Section 227 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which states and Sections 94 and 95 of the Electoral Act. The IGP has therefore ordered their immediate prosecution in the court of law no matter their status in the society.”

   The Police PRO also hinted that the arrest of such actors is to clean the political space of “hooligans and those miscreants who are determined to scuttle the peaceful conduct of the general elections.”