Kogi governorship judgement: Police threaten to deal with troublemakers

As the Supreme Court delivers judgement over the Kogi State governorship election next Tuesday,  the state command of the Nigeria Police has read Riot Act to politicians and miscreants to behave or be dealt with.

The command said on Friday that intelligence reports had shown that the two major political parties were planning to either celebrate or cause problem aftermath of the deleivery of the judgement by the apex court, saying it was ready to “deal ruthlessly” with anybody found fomenting trouble in any part of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the command, Abdulahi Chafe, who said this while addressing newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, said the command was prepared to ensure the security of lives and properties of law abiding citizens of the state.

He said men of the command would be mobilised to arrest anybody that causes problem, saying such people would be prosecuted according to the laws of the land.

Chafe said, “From the intelligence information we have, the two major political parties are consulting with their supporters to either express their happiness or otherwise, I therefore call on law abiding citzens of the state to go about their lawful businesses as measures are being put in place to safeguard the lives and properties of the good citizens.

“I want the political parties to advise their supporters to be law abiding and not to cause any problem in the state, we are ready to deal with anybody who causes problem to us as security agencies are putting things in place to counter any unforseen circumstances.

“In the interest of peace of the state, I want to let everyone know that we will not entertain any lawlessness and anybody who does that will be arrested and prosecuted according to the law of the land”.

The police commissioner added that the command had not placed any ban on procession in the state, but such be done according to the laid down regulations.

“We are in democracy, we are abiding by the norms of democracy that provide for free movement, free association, free speech but we should not do it to the detriment of other people, so anybody who wants to do that should let us know so that we can give him cover so that they can do their procession peacefully”, the commissioner stated.

According to him, the command was not partisan in providing security for the people of the state, adding that party supporters, political leaders, parents and guardians should warn their children and supporters to remain peaceful.

He said, “We are not ready to tolerate any indiscipline or any action that would cause confusion in the state, we are ready along with other securit agencies to see that before, during and after the judgment peace reign in the state”.