Security personnel in Kaduna city have detained a suspected vote-buyer with N25,963,000 in cash just hours before the state’s by-elections are scheduled to take place.
Around 3:30 am on Saturday, Nigeria Police Force agents working with the Department of State Services (DSS) captured Shehu Aliyu Patangi, the suspect, at a well-known hotel on Turunku Road.
A preliminary investigation found that the large sum of money was intended to influence voters to tamper with the process during the by-elections, according to the Kaduna State Police Command.
DSP Mansir Hassan, the Command’s spokesperson, stated that the suspect had already admitted to the crime while being questioned and begged for forgiveness.
He quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, as warning that the command would not spare anyone caught attempting to subvert the electoral process through vote buying, thuggery, violence, or any other illegal conduct.
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“The suspect was arrested with the said amount, believed to have been earmarked for bribing voters. He confessed to the crime and begged for mercy. We wish to reiterate that anyone found attempting to undermine the electoral process will face the full wrath of the law,” the CP was quoted as saying.
Political players and those who support them have also been cautioned by the Kaduna State Police Command to refrain from acts of violence that could interfere with the by-elections.
The Command stated that security services had placed personnel around voting places, collation centres, and key flashpoints after receiving reliable information indicating that certain politicians had plans to cause disturbance.
“The Command will deal decisively with troublemakers. Anyone, no matter how highly placed, who engages in violence, intimidation, vote buying, or thuggery will be arrested and prosecuted,” the statement added.
