Police arrest 24 thugs in Nasarawa, establish electoral offences desk

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested 24 political thugs with dangerous weapons in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement made available to The Star on Tuesday.

Adejobi, who stated the police received intelligence on the activities of the thugs that were working for a politician in the state, noted that many weapons were recovered from the gang.

The police spokesperson said: “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.

“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).”

He added that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has ordered the arrest of the politician alleged to be sponsoring the hoodlums for investigation, adding that the case has been transferred to Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

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Adejobi further stated that the IGP has created a special desk to tackle electoral related offences in the headquarters and across states’ commands.

He added: “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, has approved the establishment of Electoral Offences Desk at the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Force Headquarters, Abuja, with the Commissioner of Police, FCID, as the Desk Officer.

“The IGP has equally approved its establishment 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.

“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 noted.

The police spokesman reiterated the commitment of the Force to stamping out threats that could hamper peaceful and credible elections such as political thuggery in the 2023 general election.

The Star