2023 Polls: Police Arrest 781 Suspects, Record 489 Electoral Infractions

Nigeria Police Force recorded 489 major electoral infractions during the 2023 general elections held in February 25 and March 18, 2023.

This was revealed by the inspector-general of police (IGP) Usman Baba at a meeting with senior police officers in Abuja yesterday.

The IGP said, “Across the 36 states of the federation and the federal Capital Territory (FCT), a total of 489 major electoral infractions leading to arrest of 781 offenders who recorded during the presidential, national assembly, the governorship and state assembly elections while not less than 66 firearms of various description were recovered from electoral adversaries.

“A summary indicates a total of 185 major electoral offences were reported during the presidential and National Assembly elections with 203 arrests made and 18 firearms recovered.

“Similarly, a total of 304 electoral offences were recorded during the governorship and state Houses of Assembly election with a total number of 578 arrests and recovery of 48 firearms.”

The IGP stated that the culprits will be prosecuted, assuring that the force will effectively collaborate with the leadership of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in ensuring that all the electoral offenders are expeditiously and transparently prosecuted.

Force spokesman, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the IGP’s meeting with the senior police officers was designed to appraise police performance during the 2023 general elections, highlight lessons and strengths and dissect complex dynamics for subsequent optimal performance.

The IGP commended the senior police officers and other ranks for their resilience, sacrifices and professionalism that ensured the containment of the pockets of election security breaches across the country during the electioneering process.

He equally tasked all commands with submitting casefiles centrally at the electoral offences desk, office of the IGP, force headquarters, Abuja, for coordinated processing to INEC legal section.

The inspector-general of police charged the strategic police managers to readjust strategies and operations towards ensuring a stable post-election security order and refocus policing attention on routine law enforcement duties.

He admonished all political actors and their supporters to submit to democratic norms, peaceful means and legal procedures in advancing their interests as the police and other security agencies shall not tolerate the resort to incitement or any act designed to threaten our national security.