Bauchi Poll: 47 Arrested for Allegedly Impersonating Security Operatives

A group of people who allegedly turned themselves into election security operatives have been taken into police custody during the Disina State Constituency by-election in Bauchi State.

The Bauchi State Police Command said it arrested 47 suspects found at polling units in Shira Local Government Area.

Police said the suspects were allegedly posing as members of a state-owned security outfit and were found with guns, cutlasses and sticks.

The arrests came after police had warned that state-owned security outfits, vigilante groups, private security guards and other unauthorised bodies were not permitted to participate in election security.

Only statutorily recognised security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security were authorised for the exercise, according to the police.

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The suspects have been taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation and possible prosecution.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the alleged breach and said anyone attempting to interfere with the electoral process would face the law.

The development places another spotlight on the security dimension of Nigerian elections, where the presence of unauthorised armed groups around polling units can create fear, confusion and questions about the integrity of the voting environment.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the police intervention came during the Disina State Constituency by-election, with authorities saying the suspects were arrested before they could undermine the security arrangements for the poll.