Senatorial Primary: Police Arrest 24 Armed Thugs In Nasarawa

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Keffi Area Command Nasarawa State, have arrested no fewer than 24 political thugs at Keffi-Akwanga Road in the State.

It was gathered that the thugs suspected to be loyal to an aspirant in the Nasarawa West Senatorial primaries came into the hotel in a convoy of seven private vehicles.

The operatives arrested twenty-four suspected political thugs at Minki Suites, along Keffi-Akwanga Road.

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Items recovered from the arrested suspects include; eight ( 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).

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the Electoral Offences Desk at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and the immediate arrest of the concerned aspirant for necessary investigative actions.

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The IGP has equally approved its establishment at State Commands across the nation for 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.

He, however, tasked the Desk to commence its activities immediately with some isolated cases recorded during the pre-election activities such as screening, conventions, and primaries.

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Mr Baba reiterates the commitment of the Force to stamping out threats to peaceful and credible elections at all levels, even as he vows to deal decisively with anyone caught engaging in political thuggery.