Police in Ogun arrested about 30 persons for allegedly engaging in electoral violence and vote buying during the March 18 governorship election in the state.
State’s Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking with journalists during a visit to the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abeokuta, the state capital.
He said the suspects were arrested in various parts of the state for offences ranging from unlawful possession of firearms, inducement and vote buying during the election, among others.
He said police also recovered 12 firearms, including an English made beretta pistol, 25 live cartridges and eight expended cartridges.
Mba further said 235 credit cards and customised ATM cards were also recovered from the suspects engaging in vote buying.
The Ogun police boss said, “A total of 30 persons were arrested. They were arrested for various offences, ranging from unlawful possession of weapons to disorderly behaviour around polling units, conduct likely to cause breach of peace and also for offences relating to insertion of undue influence and attempt to indulge in vote buying.
“We also recovered a total of 12 firearms of different mix and shapes, most of them are locally fabricated shotguns.
“We also recovered one beretta pistol, an English made pistol. We recovered a total of 25 live cartridges and eight expended cartridges.
“We also have with us a total of 235 credit cards or ATM cards which are very customised ATM and credit cards.”
Mba said investigations are ongoing, promising to keep citizens of the state abreast of developments regarding the various cases.
“You can trust us that we will certainly and surely do a good job,” he said.
Mbah gave the assurance that the suspects would be handed over to INEC for proper prosecution at the end of investigations to determine their individual level of complicity and culpability.
“We believe that will be done very soon. You know under the new rules, prosecution is handled by INEC. At the right time, under the right directives from the office of the Inspector General of Police, these cases will naturally be transferred to INEC and we will work together with them, support them and ensure that these cases are diligently prosecuted,” Mba said.