The acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the arraignment of over 150 suspected political thugs arrested in various parts of the country for election violence in court this week.
The high point of the arrest was the apprehension of three persons on Friday, which includes a House of Representatives’ candidate in Brass Constituency elections in Bayelsa State, Israel Gioli, for allegedly masterminding the attack on a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kola Okunola in Twon, Brass, last Sunday. The others are Tamarapreye Victor and Azi Newton, both 34 years old.
Politicsngr reports that Okunola was performing his duty, leading a team providing security for electoral officials, voters and materials when he was attacked and molested by the thugs allegedly led by Gioli.
The acting IGP has therefore directed the Special Election Investigation Team to immediately commence the investigation and prosecution of all those arrested in connection with election violence in the country.
Speaking on the development on Saturday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said some of them will be charged to court next week.
The charges range from ballot box snatching, assault on police officers on election duty, illegal arms possession, impersonation and malicious damage, amongst others.
“I know that the prosecution of some of the suspects whose investigation had been concluded would start next week; they would be charged next week (this week),” Mba said.
