By Prscilla Campbell,
Minna
Niger State Police Command has arrested no fewer 62 suspected political thugs in connection with the violence in the just concluded local governments primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Adamu Usman, explained in Minna that most of those arrested were under the influence of substances suspected to be hard drugs and had dangerous weapons.
According to him, “We have so far apprehended 62 miscreants from five local government areas for political violence in the state.”
Usman said his men recovered from them one Toyota vehicle laden with dangerous weapons such as machetes, daggers and knives.
The suspects, the state police boss stated, had been charged to court for unlawful assembly, disturbance of public peace, being in possession of dangerous weapons and for sponsoring thuggery in accordance with the Niger State anti-thuggery law.
The LGs where violence erupted include Katcha, Paikoro, Tafa, Rafi and Rijiau.
The police commissioner also warned those that have the intention of causing trouble in the forthcoming Local Government elections to have a rethink.
“I admonish anyone with any grievances in the conduct of the primary elections to seek redress in the court of law rather than resorting to violence,” he said. He warned that the command, under his watch, would not allow some disgruntled elements to continue to harass and intimidate innocent citizens of the state..