The Nigeria Police Force has vowed to go after fake security operatives recruited by politicians to disrupt Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) for South-South, Daniel Sokari-Pedro, told newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Friday, that the police would track and arrest the fake law enforcement agents.
Sokari-Pedro said the intention of such politicians was to cause problem and disrupt the electoral process.
The alert by the police may not be unconnected with reports that some politicians have provided military uniforms to thugs recruited to disrupt the election.
Sokari-Pedro, however, said anyone caught would be decisively dealt with and prosecuted according to the law.
The DIG stated: “It has come to my notice that politicians have been using some fake law enforcement agents.
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“I want to assure you that whether such law enforcement agents are fake or real, if they are arrested, they are in serious trouble.
“They will blame the day they were born into this world, I assure them.
“Whether they are fake or real, the issue is that they are disturbing the electoral process.”
The DIG also warned politicians against making inflammatory statements to further charge the already tensed atmosphere in Bayelsa State ahead of the election.
He advised such politicians to refrain from their divisive utterances, stressing that the police and other security agencies would not spare anyone trying to compromise the peace of the state.
Sokari-Pedro added: “And again, politicians are charging the already tensed atmosphere by making inflammatory statements.
“Statements ordinarily if not because of election, would have been termed to have security implications, and when police get a person arrested for making such statements, they will say police are taking side.
“So I want everybody to thread with caution, the election is just a few hours away, we should give peace a chance and ensure we don’t make unnecessary inflammatory statements.”
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