Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Kano State Police have arrested over 500 political thugs (Yandabas) in the state for various electoral offences ahead of Saturdays presidential and National Assembly elections.
Kano State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Wakili, disclosed this on Friday, while briefing the media on their extent of preparations for the exercise.
He explained that they had deployed about 15,000 personnel for the elections adding that the officers would be complemented by additional 5,000 officers from their sister security agencies.
On the arrested political thugs, he revealed that they were picked up from various hideouts and black spots in the state for being in possession of dangerous weapons, snatching of handset during rallies, arson among others.
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“They actually broke the law; they were moving about, attacking people, brandishing weapons, snatching handsets from people with knives- which if we look at it properly, you call it armed robbery” he stated, adding that they were being charged to court
“I assure the good people of Kano State that we are very prepared to provide security for them and that these elections would be violent-free by then grace of God,” he added.
He reiterated that dangerous weapons would not be allowed within the voting centers, warning that anybody that goes against the law in this regard would be dealt with accordingly.
He called on contestants to prevail on their followers to play by the rules while urging the people to come out en masse and cast their votes in a peaceful manner.