The Kano State Police Command announced the arrest of 333 suspects for electoral violence and disruption during Saturday’s re-run election in Ghari/Tsanyawa and the by-election in Bagwai/Shanono constituencies.
Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, told journalists at the Command Headquarters on Monday that coordinated security operations led to the arrests in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process.
He explained that the polls, conducted under difficult circumstances, faced attempts by individuals to undermine the process through the mass importation of thugs from within and outside the state.
Security operatives recovered a pump-action rifle, five locally made guns, 94 sticks, 16 swords, 18 cutlasses, 32 other locally made weapons, 18 knives, one bow and 23 arrows, along with catapults, stones and 14 vehicles allegedly used in the violence.
They also seized two ballot boxes, 163 thumb-printed ballot papers and cash totalling ₦4,048,000.
“All arrested suspects have been charged before Magistrate Courts 20, 27, 44 Nomansland, and Magistrate Courts 8 and 53 Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano, under various electoral offences,” Bakori said.
The charges include criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of weapons, intimidation, loitering after voting, snatching or destruction of election materials, and vote solicitation on election day.
Bakori commended the joint security agencies under the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), stressing that their professionalism prevented wider violence.
He urged residents to remain law-abiding and support the security agencies, noting that maintaining peace is a shared responsibility.