ELECTION: POLICE ISSUE A THUGGERY WARNING

The Nasarawa State Police Command has vowed to look into claims that politicians imported goons to sabotage elections there.

This is stated in a statement provided to journalists on Friday in Lafia and signed by DSP Ramhan Nansel, the state’s police public relations officer (PPRO).

Nansel claims that the leadership learned that some desperate politicians were bringing in thugs from other states to sabotage polls in some parts of the state.

We have learned that certain desperate politicians have imported political thugs into the Nassarawa-Eggon, Akwanga, Toto, and Kokona Local Government Areas in an effort to sabotage the electoral process (LGAs).

In light of the aforementioned, the command is advising any politicians who are considering interrupting the process to refrain because doing so would be illegal under the Electoral Act of 2022.

The police spokesperson stated, “We will deal ruthlessly or subjugate any act that is potential of rupturing the polls come March 18, 2023. We will employ all necessary force within our operating rules in coordination with all security agencies.

The public should be aware that there will be mobility restrictions in place from 12 a.m. on March 17 until 6 p.m. on March 18, according to the police spokesman.

Only authorized observers, journalists, security personnel, and one authorized representative of each registered political party will be permitted entry inside any of the state’s collation centers, according to him.

Nansel claimed that Maiyaki Baba-Mohammed, the state’s commissioner of police,

called on the populace to cast their ballots for candidates of their choosing in large numbers and without hesitation.

He claimed that the police commissioner had issued a warning urging parents to instruct their children to abstain from unlawful activity.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) workers, voters, and INEC buildings would all be protected with the highest level of security, the police image maker promised.

No matter their social standing, he claimed that the police will deal with anyone considered to be in need of improvement.