No fewer than five suspected political thugs have been arrested with guns in Anambra State.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the development.
The PPRO said the thugs were arrested on Saturday in Ihiala LGA, adding that pump-action guns were recovered from them.
“Five armed thugs (have been) arrested in Ihiala Anambra State where four pump actions (were) recovered. Further development shall be communicated,” he said.
Commissioner of police in charge of elections in Anambra, Aderemi Adeoye, while briefing journalists on the development, said the suspects were brought into the secretariat by a local government official.
“The second one is at Iyiala LGA, where a local government official brought in armed thugs to the secretariat. The thugs have been arrested — they are five in number,” he said.
Adeoye said the suspects were arrested, adding that investigation had commenced.
He said, “Five pump-action guns have been recovered and the thugs have been detained.
“We did warn from the outset, that we will not tolerate thuggery and snatching of boxes and we will come hard on anyone who violates the electoral act and guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of this election.”