2023 credible polls: IGP establishes electoral offences desks nationwide, assigns desk officers.

Talks tough on political thuggery, as 24 armed thugs arrested in Keffi

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, has approved the establishment of Electoral Offences Desk at the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Force Headquarters, Abuja, with the Commissioner of Police, FCID, as the Desk Officer. The IGP has equally approved its establishment at State Commands across the nation with the Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Departments as State Desk Officers.

The mandate of the Electoral Offences Desk Officers includes the collation and investigation of all electoral offences/complaints from members of the public or any quarters, with a view to determining culpability in line with the amended Electoral Act 2022, and proffering charges before Courts of competent jurisdiction for necessary legal action. The IGP tasked the Desk to commence its activities immediately with some isolated cases recorded during the pre-election activities such as screening, conventions, primaries, etc.

In line with this mandate, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Keffi Area Command of the Nasarawa State Command, acting on credible and actionable intelligence have arrested twenty-four suspected political thugs at Minki Suites, along Keffi-Akwanga Road. The thugs suspected to be loyal to an aspirant in the Nasarawa West Senatorial primaries came into the hotel in a convoy of seven private vehicles.

Items recovered from the arrested suspects include; eight (8) pump action guns, two (2) locally made revolver guns, thirty-seven (37) rounds of live cartridges, four (4) bulletproof vests, twenty-seven (27) mobile phones, two (2) pairs of vigilante uniforms, five (5) cutlasses, ten (10) assorted knives, criminal charms, and other incriminating objects. Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects, who are thugs for hire,  carry out their heinous acts under the guise of being members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN).

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the Electoral Offences Desk at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and the immediate arrest of the concerned aspirant for necessary investigative actions. The IGP reiterates the commitment of the Force to stamping out threats to peaceful and credible elections at all levels, even as he vows to deal decisively with anyone caught engaging inn political thuggery.

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Agbede tanker accident: Obaseki commiserates with victims, summons security meeting

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commiserated with the families of victims of the fatal accident involving 14 vehicles, which claimed the lives of seven persons with many others injured in Agbede, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement, Obaseki said the unfortunate fatal accident is most regrettable and will be a major subject for deliberation at the state Security Council meeting this week in order to unravel the causes so as to ensure that such an incident can be averted in the future.

He noted, “The unfortunate fatal accident involving 14 vehicles, which claimed the lives of seven persons with many others injured in Agbede, Etsako West Local Government Area, is most regrettable and is receiving the full attention of the state’s Security Council.

“While we commiserate with the families of victims and other persons who suffered losses in the ghastly accident, we want to assure Edo people that the matter has been thoroughly investigated and is going to be a major subject for deliberation at the State Security Council meeting this week in order to unravel the causes so as to ensure that such an incident can be averted in the future.

“We have since cleared the debris from the expressway and have opened the road for commuters.”

“We urge all Edo people and other persons in transit to continue with their lawful businesses as order has been restored to the area,” the governor charged