Security operatives arrested Shehu Aliyu Patangi, a suspected vote buyer, with N25,963,000 in cash in Kaduna metropolis hours before Saturday’s bye-elections in parts of the state.
The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), apprehended the suspect at 3:30am in a popular hotel along Turunku Road, according to the Kaduna State Police Command.
Preliminary investigations indicate the cash was intended to bribe voters and undermine the electoral process, police said.
DSP Mansir Hassan, the command’s spokesman, revealed that Patangi confessed to the crime during interrogation and pleaded for leniency.
Commissioner of Police CP Rabiu Muhammad warned that the command would deal decisively with anyone caught engaging in vote buying, thuggery, violence, or other illegal activities aimed at disrupting the elections.
“The suspect was arrested with the said amount, believed to have been earmarked for bribing voters. He confessed to the crime and begged for mercy. We wish to reiterate that anyone found attempting to undermine the electoral process will face the full wrath of the law,” the CP was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command has also warned political actors and their supporters to desist from violence and acts capable of disrupting the bye-elections.
The Command said it had received credible intelligence suggesting plans by some politicians to instigate unrest, adding that security agencies had deployed personnel across polling units, collation centres and strategic flashpoints.
“The Command will deal decisively with troublemakers. Anyone, no matter how highly placed, who engages in violence, intimidation, vote buying, or thuggery will be arrested and prosecuted,” the statement added.
The police assured residents of adequate security before, during and after the elections and urged citizens to come out and vote peacefully without fear of intimidation.
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