The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 47 persons allegedly operating as unauthorised security personnel during the ongoing by-election in the state.
According to the police, the suspects were apprehended at various polling units in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area, while allegedly carrying firearms, cutlasses and sticks.
Their arrest was made on Saturday as voting was underway, despite restrictions on the involvement of unapproved security groups in the election.
Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Habib, said the command had earlier warned state-owned security outfits, quasi-security agencies, private security guards and vigilante groups against participating in election security operations.
He said only statutorily recognised security agencies operating under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) were authorised to provide security for the polls.
According to Habib, the suspects allegedly claimed to be members of a state-owned security outfit but were found carrying weapons within the polling areas.
The police said the suspects were taken into custody, while the firearms, cutlasses, sticks and other recovered items were secured as exhibits for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered the suspects’ transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Bauchi, for investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.
Aliyu condemned the alleged violation of the police directives and described it as an attempt to undermine the electoral process.
Subsequently, the command warned individuals and groups against actions capable of disrupting the by-election or threatening public peace.
It also urged residents to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities to security authorities as the electoral process continues.