Acting on credible intelligence, officers of the Nigeria Police Force arrested 24 political thugs in a hotel along the Keffi-Akwanga road in Nasarawa State called Minki Suites.
Suspects of being supporters of a candidate in the Nasarawa-West Senatorial primary, the thugs arrived at the hotel in a convoy of seven private vehicles.
Eight pump action guns, two locally made revolvers, 37 live cartridges, four bulletproof vests, 27 mobile phones, two pairs of vigilante uniforms, five cutlasses, ten assorted knives, criminal charms, and other incriminating objects were recovered from the arrested suspects.
Investigations have revealed that the suspects, who are hired thugs, commit their heinous crimes under the guise of being members of the Nigerian Vigilante Group.
This is as the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, approved the establishment of Electoral Offences Desk at the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Force Headquarters, in Abuja on Tuesday, with the Commissioner of Police, FCID, as the Desk Officer.
The IGP also 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 and 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 said in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi.
The IGP, however, ordered the immediate transfer of the arrested suspects’ case to the Electoral Offences Desk at the Force Criminal Investigation Department and the immediate arrest of the concerned aspirant for necessary investigative actions.
Baba also tasked the Desk to commence its activities immediately with some isolated cases recorded during the pre-election activities such as screening, conventions, primaries, and other electoral events.