The Nasarawa State Police Command said it has arrested 17 political thugs, recovered 13 firearms and 22 ammunition during the just concluded general elections in the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Maiyaki Baba, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.
According to the commissioner, following the existing synergy, on 17/03/2023, the eve of election, military operatives patrolling along Umaisha, Toto local government areas intercepted a Toyota pickup vehicle and a Toyota Sienna loaded with persons suspected to be political thugs.
” A thorough search was conducted on them, where two English pump action guns, nine locally fabricated guns, twenty live cartridges, twenty four handsets of different brands, two unregistered vehicles, fifteen pairs of desert booths, a bag containing belts, bullet proof jackets,” he said.
CP Baba, who spoke through Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, said police operatives attached to Masaka Division on 15/03/2023 at 2035hrs, acted on credible information and arrested two suspected armed robbers.
He said the suspected armed robbers have been on the wanted list of the command for various offences, before police operatives were deployed to their hideout located at Angwan Police, Masaka where they were arrested.
“Consequently, one locally fabricated Beretta pistol was recovered from them as an exhibit. Upon cross-examination, they confessed to have carried out many armed robbery operations within Masaka and its environs,” he added.
CP Baba further disclosed that a gang of two men, armed with dangerous weapons, were arrested for attempting to kill one Ali Misalam of Toto LGA for allegedly initiating their mother into witchcraft.
He gave breakdown of the arrest to include: 17 suspected political thugs, two armed robbery suspects, two for attempted culpable homicide, two vehicles recovered, 13 firearms recovered and 22 ammunition recovered.
Baba said the command would not be beaten by the antics of criminals, as it would rather continue to modulate its enormous security measures in order to be several miles ahead of the men of the underworld.