No fewer than 47 suspects were arrested on Saturday during the bye-election in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The suspects, who were allegedly armed with guns, cutlasses, and sticks, were reportedly posing as operatives of a state-owned security outfit.
According to the Bauchi State Police Command, the suspects were arrested across various polling units.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Nafiu Habib, said in a statement on Saturday, “Following our deployment for election duty in Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA, 47 operatives claiming to be members of a state-owned security outfit were arrested within polling units.
“They were found in possession of guns, cutlasses, and sticks, in contravention of the Electoral Act and the security directives earlier issued.”
The PPRO added that the suspects were immediately taken into custody, while firearms and other dangerous weapons were recovered from them.
Habib noted that the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the development and directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
