• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Police denies arresting 400 suspected thugs in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State police command has denied media reports that it arrested 400 suspected thugs in a hotel in Uyo, the state capital few hours before the postponed general elections which were to begin on February 16.

It stated however that contrary to the report, 41 persons were arrested at a different hotel in the state capital adding that they claimed to be in the state as observers for the 2019 general elections but could not give any proper or reasonable identity of themselves.

Bashir Makama, Akwa Ibom State commissioner of police said while briefing journalists at the police head office in Ikot Akpan Abia near Uyo that those arrested came from Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo states  adding that more investigation would be carried out to determine their true identity and purpose in the state.

Makama who was represented by  DSP Odiko Macdon, the command’s Public Relations officer (PPRP) confirmed that 10 hoodlums have been arrested for allegedly  setting eleven buses ablaze in Obot Akara local government area of the state while confirming that one person was killed in the process.

Read Also: https://businessday.ng/news/article/lagos-state-denies-hiring-thugs-to-attack-protesters-at-alausa/

According to him, the buses were set to convey election materials during the postponed general elections to various wards in the area. He however said the election materials were not tampered with  adding that “they are safe and in good condition.”

Makama said many exhibits were recovered from the suspects including one knife, hot, drink, phones, weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and twenty five live cartridges.

However, three of the suspects denied being thugs and having in their   possession some of the recovered items maintaining that they had only their mobile phones with them when they were arrested.

He said that those arrested would be transferred to the force criminal investigation department for more discreet investigation.

The police commissioner also disclosed that 20 persons were arrested in Ukanafun local government area of the state  who were brought into the state from Rivers state on the pretext of attending a burial of a Lance Corporal of Udo Essien of the Nigerian Army while the command also arrested Anietie Peter on February 17th  in Mkpat Enin for allegedly being in possession of 34 Permanent Voters Cards.

While calling on politicians to play the game according to the rule, the police commissioner also advised supporters of political parties “to conduct themselves peacefully during the election.”

He reiterated  the non partisan nature of the police in the state maintaining that they would remain apolitical, neutral and committed to free ,fair and credible elections.

“We will at all times act professionally based on International best practices,’’ he said.

Speaking to reporters, one of the suspected thugs who claimed tobe election  observers and who hails from Bayelsa State denied being a thug adding that they had submitted their passports to Society for Advancement of Credible leadership adding that the organization is registered with INEC.

“We came in on Thursday to confirm whether our names were there or not. We were in the hotel booked for us by our coordinator. When we arrested, our phones were taken from us and we have not been able to contact anyone. INEC can prove if our names have been registered with them, he said.