We’ll arrest, prosecute for political offences, say police in Ogun

Ahead of rescheduled 2015 general elections billed for March 28 and April 11, the police have handed down a warning ‎to group of politicians and members of the public planning violence before, during and after the elections, to have a rethink, as they (police) will arrest and prosecute for any acts of violence.

Operatives of Nigeria Police from Ogun State command who spoke on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police at the peace accord signed by major political parties in the state, including LP, PDP, APC, SDP, APGA, UPN, noted that the peace accord became imperative in order to warn the players. Valentine Ntomchukwu, commissioner of police in Ogun, speaking at the Eleweran, Abeokuta, venue of the event, declared that the police would not condone ‎any acts of violence and criminality before, during and after the coming general elections, warning that police reserve the power to arrest and prosecute anybody, no matter highly placed, who foment elections-based troubles.

‎”I want to tell you that major political parties are all represented. Then you said we used to make an announcement ‎that we banned bangers and yet when people used it, we made no arrest. They are never the same. You cannot compare bangers with brigands, with criminals with arms, trying to snuff life out of citizens that are either going on their lawful business or have come to talk to candidates at campaigns.

“Election is not war and it cannot not do or die affairs. It is my warning and I know that my officers are aware of that, my area commanders, my DPOs. I have told them to arrest anybody, I repeat, to arrest anybody who is seen with offensive weapons, clubs, cudgels or any instruments of violence at the venues of campaigns before, during or immediately after, we are not going to tolerate that. This state has not got history of crisis like that and we will not allow it happen in our own time.

“We will make sure (any criminal) he is confined because what he is doing is tantamount to robbery and murder. When offence is about life; destroying life, destroying property, grievous arms, I can tell you that it falls within level that we cannot‎ take lightly, the person will be confined and after the elections, we can now prosecute him,” he said.

RAZAQ AYINLA