By Miriam Humbe, Abuja
Few hours before the governorship/State Houses of Assembly elections, Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Police Command, Maiyaki Baba, has warned politicians and anyone intending to cause a breach of the peace in the State to desist or be ruthlessly dealt with according to the law.
The Commissioner of Police said it had come to his knowledge that some desperate groups of politicians in their bid to truncate the electoral process in the State had resorted to importing political thugs into some Local governments such as Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga, Toto and Kokona.
CP Baba said this in a statement signed on his behalf by Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ramhan Nansel on Friday.
The Commissioner of Police warned them to shelve the idea and allow the electoral process to be carried out peacefully as his command would deal ruthlessly with defaulters.
While calling on members of the public to massively go out and vote for candidates of their choice, he advised parents to warm their children and wards to refrain from causing trouble as anyone caught would face the full weight of the law no matter how highly placed.
Here’s what the Commissioner of Police said:
“In view of the forgoing, the Command is using this medium to warn all politicians who are nursing the idea of disrupting the electoral process or contravene the Electoral Act, 2022 to stay away from such and allow the electoral process to be carried out under peaceful atmosphere; as the Command will use all necessary forces/do everything within its operational guidelines in synergy with all security agencies in the State to deal ruthlessly or subdue any act, that is capable of rupturing the polls come March 18, 2023.
“Furthermore, members of the public and all political parties are to note that there will be restriction of movement from 12 mid-night of March 17, 2023 to 6:00pm of March 18, 2023.
“Take note also that accredited observers, journalists, security agents, and one accredited political party agent each from all registered political parties would be allowed entrance in all collation centres across the State.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Maiyaki Baba has called on members of the public to go out en masse and vote for candidates of their choice without fear while assuring them of maximum security.
“Parents are advised to warn their wards to stay away from any contemplated illegality; anyone found wanting no matter how highly placed in the society shall be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
