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The Bauchi State
Police Command says it has arrested 20 persons for various electoral
offences across the state during last Saturday’s parliamentary
elections.

The state Police
Commissioner, Amanam John Abakasanga, disclosed this while parading the
suspects before newsmen at the command headquarters in Bauchi. He said
they were arrested for various offences ranging from ballot box
snatching to possession of dangerous weapons, impersonation, multiple
registrations, criminal conspiracy and thuggery, among others.

According to Mr
Abakasanga, “those arrested on 9th April are: Ibrahim Ya’u and Ya’u
Adamu of Toro Council of the state who were arrested at Jajuwa Polling
unit for multiple registrations and being in possession of dangerous
weapons; Abdulkarim Adamu Jumba, arrested at Federal Lowcost polling
unit for being in possession of offensive weapons; Murtala Dankirana of
Kobi Street in Bauchi Metropolis, who was arrested in Alkaleri Local
Government for being in possession of ballot box and ballot papers;
Saidu Magnid of Dambam, who was arrested in Dambam for ballot box
snatching.” Others include “Mohammed Maigari, a citizen of Niger
Republic, arrested in Azare for impersonation and for voting when not
qualified. Musa Adamu, Hassan Mohammadu, Haladu Mohammed, Ibrahim
Saidu, Hassan Alhaji Musa, Hussaini Makama, Mohammed; all of Darazo
Council arrested for criminal conspiracy, snatching of ballot box
containing electoral materials and being in possession of dangerous
weapons.” The CP further revealed that other suspects arrested prior to
the elections on 8th April were: Ahmed Bala Mohammed and Sale Adamu who
were arrested at Federal High Court premises for being in possession of
a pistol revolver and six rounds of live ammunition;

Shuaibu Hambe,
Sani Mohammed, Ibrahim Mohammed, Rabiu Musa and Suleiman Mohammed all
of Bauchi who were arrested yesterday at Unguwar Nupawa in Bauchi
metropolis for thuggery and mischief. He said they were arrested while
damaging vehicles.

The Police boss
said the suspects would soon be charged to court for prosecution. He
commended men and officers of the Police in the state for their conduct
during the polls on Saturday saying, “I have not received any case of
misconduct by any of my men.” He called on newsmen to assist the Police
in reporting cases of misconduct, underage voters, among other
irregularities.

Caught in the act

Some of the suspects who spoke to NEXT admitted to their offences.

Ahmed Mohammed, a
father of three who was arrested with a pistol at the Federal High
Court premises, where the CPC gubernatorial candidate is in court said:
“I am a youth leader of CPC in the state and I took the pistol to
protect myself from opponents who could attack me at any time.” He said
he bought the pistol for N40,000, and prayed that he be shown mercy.

The 37-year-old Nigerien, Mr Maigari said “I am a wheel-barrow
pusher and had been in Nigeria for over 20 years. I have never voted in
Nigeria and even in my country, I have also never voted. I thought that
by living in Nigeria for this long, I now have the right to vote.”