Police arrest 47 suspected fake security operatives during Bauchi by-election

Police in Bauchi State have arrested 47 people accused of posing as security operatives at polling units during the Disina State Constituency by-election in Shira Local Government Area.

The command said the suspects were found with guns, cutlasses and sticks as voting began on Saturday. Police said the arrests followed an earlier warning that state-owned security outfits, vigilante groups, private guards and other quasi-security groups were not authorised to take part in election security duties.

Daily Post reported that police personnel deployed across Disina polling units made the arrests after the suspects allegedly claimed to belong to a state-owned security outfit. The command said the recovered weapons included firearms and other dangerous items.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, ordered the suspects transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Bauchi for investigation and possible prosecution.

The command said only agencies recognised under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security were allowed to provide security for the poll. It also warned individuals and groups against actions that could disrupt voting or breach the peace in Shira and Zaki local government areas.

Source: Daily Post