About 26 suspects have been arrested by the Benue State Police Command over electoral violence during the governorship and state assembly elections held on Saturday, March 18.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state, Catherine Anene, made this known on Monday, March 20.
According to her, the suspects were involved in political thuggery, illegal possession of firearms, snatching ballot boxes and voter intimidation.
“Exhibits recovered from them include; three (3) locally made pistols, cutlasses, knives and wraps of weed suspected to be indian hemp.
“While condemning these acts, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State CP. Wales Abass ordered detailed investigation into these case and promised to deal with suspects in accordance with the laws,” said Anene.
The principal police officer stressed that the command had specially deployed officials across the state for post election security management.
During the elections held on Saturday, March 18, The ICIR reported at least two people were shot dead in the Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The victims were suspected to be ballot box snatchers, who invaded some polling units in the area.
They had also tried to make away with the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), in the full glare of voters in a bid to disrupt the electoral process.
Source: The ICIR