The Kano State Police Command has confirmed the prosecution of no fewer than 333 suspected political thugs and government officials over their alleged roles in the violence that marred the recent by-elections in the state.
Spokesperson of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, disclosed on Tuesday that the suspects were arrested across different polling units during and after the elections for offenses ranging from ballot snatching, vote buying, intimidation of voters, and unlawful possession of dangerous weapons.
According to him, the command had earlier vowed to ensure that anyone found culpable, regardless of political or social status, would be brought before the law to serve as a deterrent to others.
“Out of the hundreds arrested, 333 suspects including some serving government officials were arraigned before various magistrate courts. They were charged with unlawful assembly, political thuggery, destruction of electoral materials, and disturbance of public peace. Ten other suspects are still in custody undergoing interrogation,” Haruna said.
He stressed that the command worked in synergy with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies to maintain relative order during the polls.
The police also assured residents of Kano that the ongoing crackdown on political violence would continue until the state was free from the menace of thuggery.
Meanwhile, civil society groups and election observers have welcomed the swift action, describing it as a step towards restoring sanity in Kano’s electoral process. However, they urged the judiciary to ensure speedy and impartial trials to restore confidence in the democratic process.
The by-elections in Kano, which held across several constituencies, witnessed heavy voter turnout but were overshadowed by cases of violence and electoral malpractice in some areas.
