Weapons recovered from the suspects
In a decisive crackdown during Saturday’s Ghari/Tsanyawa re-run election and Bagwai/Shanono by-election, the Kano State Police Command arrested 333 individuals for various electoral violations, recovering a cache of weapons and over N4 million in cash.
The arrests, made across Ghari, Bagwai, and Shanono Local Government Areas, targeted suspects accused of disrupting the voting process and threatening the integrity of the elections.
Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu, addressing a press briefing in Kano on Monday, detailed the operation’s success.
“We apprehended these suspects for attempting to undermine the credibility of the electoral exercise,” Adamu stated, listing recovered items that included a pump action rifle, five locally-made guns, 94 long sticks, 16 swords, 18 cutlasses, 32 locally-made weapons, 18 knives, a bow with 23 arrows, seven catapults, 45 stones, 14 vehicles, two ballot boxes, 163 thumb-printed ballot papers, and N4.048 million in cash.
The suspects now face charges in multiple Kano Magistrate Courts, including Courts 20, 27, 44 (No Man’s Land), 8, and 53, for offenses such as criminal conspiracy, possession of offensive weapons, voter intimidation, loitering after voting, destruction of election materials, improper use of vehicles, and vote solicitation.
“All arrested individuals are being prosecuted to ensure justice is served,” Adamu affirmed.
Adamu praised the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and other security agencies for their collaborative efforts, which he said were crucial in containing potential violence.
“Their professionalism ensured the safety of voters and election officials, preventing the situation from escalating,” he noted.
Urging residents to view security as a shared responsibility, Adamu encouraged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
“For emergencies, please reach out to us via 08032419754 or 09029292926,” he added, reinforcing the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order.
