Police arrest 781 suspects, record 489 electoral infractions during 2023 polls

March 27, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) said a total of 781 electoral offenders were arrested during the 2023 general election.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, who made this known on Monday, said the suspects were arrested over a total of 489 major electoral infractions across the country.

Speaking at a meeting with Strategic Police Managers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), comprising Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and other Tactical Commanders at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, on Monday, the IGP vowed to ensure proper prosecution of the suspects.

A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said, the IGP also directed all Police Commands to submit case files of the offenders to his office in Abuja, for coordinated processing to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Legal Section.

“The IGP seized the opportunity to commend the Senior Police Officers and Commanders and other ranks for their resilience, sacrifices, and professionalism, which ensured the containment of the pockets of election security breaches across the country during the electioneering process and enhanced the overall credibility of the elections in line with the police reform initiatives of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“He equally assured of effective collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expeditiously and transparently prosecute the 781 electoral offenders apprehended from a total of 489 major electoral infractions across the nation, as all Commands were tasked with submitting casefiles centrally at the Electoral Offences Desk, Office of the IGP, Force Headquarters, Abuja, for coordinated processing to INEC Legal Section,” the statement added.

IGP Baba, therefore, 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 also 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.”