The Sokoto State Police Command has vowed that it will be scaling up top crime prevention actions, including embarking on aggressive stop-and-search operations in the state.
In a statement issued to newsmen by DSP Sanusi Abubakar, the spokesman of the Command said the development followed the continuous actions by political area boys moving about with dangerous weapons during campaigns.
He said the notice is to intimate members of the public, particularly political party leaders, candidates and the teeming youths of the state about the danger of the act and to discourage them.
He also stated that “The Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Gumel, in collaboration with all members of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Elections Security (ICCES) in the state will be escalating top crime prevention actions.
“This includes embarking on an aggressive stop and search operation to weed-off any person or group of persons found wielding any kind of illicit weapons during political campaigns in all parts of the state.”
According to the PPRO, the action came to fore as the campaign movements by various political parties are being intensified hence the decision to embark on the drastic measures.
The police spokesperson explained that “this propped up after careful review of the ongoing campaign activities and violations of electoral acts where political supporters were sighted wielding weapons in gross violation of the relevant provision of the laws”.
He stated that “by this notice, therefore, members of the public are hereby notified that there will henceforth be a thorough check along all identified routes and exit points in the state.”
The PPRO emphasized that politicians are advised to keep prevailing on their followers on the need to remain law abiding, adding that violators will be investigated and arraigned in court for appropriate sanction(s) in accordance with the provision of extant laws and electoral act of the year, 2022.
