THE Police in Kano State say they have arrested 93 suspects for alleged thuggery during electioneering in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Dauda, stated this in a statement by the spokesman for the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, on Friday.
The statement quoted the commissioner as saying that the measure was in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, aimed at ensuring peaceful election processes in the country.
He said operatives of the command arrested 53 suspects on February 9 in an operation conducted during a political activity at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
The command, he said, recovered two locally made guns, 32 knives, one axe, two catapults and a bunch of charms, during the operation.
The commissioner added that the command also apprehended 40 suspects for alleged thuggery in the past one week.
Dauda said, “Another clearance operation conducted by a team of Operation Restore Peace led by CSP Bashir Gwadabe, Officer in Charge of Anti-Daba Squad led to the arrest of the suspected thugs.
“The items recovered included 62 parcels of Cannabis, 60 bottles of Codiene syrup, 28 knives, four motorcycles and three sewing machines.”
He said the suspects would soon be charged to court.
The CP said prior to the clearance operation, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security met and appraised the level of preparedness ahead of the forthcoming general election.
He said effective security machineries had been evolved to ensure free, fair, credible, transparent and successful general election in the state.
While commending security agencies, media and the people of the state for their support, Dauda reiterated the commitment of the command to protect lives and property.