Bauchi Police arrest 47 armed suspects during bye-election

During the bye-elections in Bauchi State, specifically in the Disina State Constituency of Shira Local Government Area, the Bauchi State Police Command arrested approximately 47 individuals. The suspects were allegedly posing as members of a state-owned security outfit and were found at polling units armed with firearms, cutlasses, and sticks.

The arrests occurred despite a prior security directive issued by the police command on September 17, which explicitly prohibited quasi-security agencies, private guards, and state-owned security outfits from participating in election security. According to the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) guidelines, only statutorily recognized federal agencies are authorized to provide security at the polls.

Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu condemned the incident as a “blatant disregard for lawful directives and an attempt to undermine the electoral process.” The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for investigation and prosecution.

Separately, Bauchi State Deputy Governor Muhammad Auwal Jatau commended the voter turnout in the Zaki and Disina constituencies but expressed concern regarding the alleged arrest and intimidation of political supporters by security personnel. He called for the immediate release of those detained and urged security forces to exercise restraint.