- Politicians, Thugs, Violent Cult Groups Named In Report
- 14-day Ultimatum For Surrender Of Illegal Arms, Ammunitions
- Reward for Information on Arms Hideout
Benin, Edo, Nigeria – By Oladipo Airenakho.
Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo has alerted the public of an unconfirmed intelligence reports indicating massive build-up of arms and ammunitions by some unscrupulous politicians, persons and groups intending to cause mayhem if they lose their primaries.
Consequently the state Police boss has issued a 14-day ultimatum to everyone in possession of illegal arms and ammunitions, irrespective of his or her status, to surrender them or face grave consequences.
The commissioner made the disclosure and issued the warning in his office last Friday in a meeting with representatives of various media organizations in the state.
The meeting was part of the plan to get the state ready for a violent-free February 2015 general elections.
Said, the commissioner: ‘’ Unconfirmed intelligence at our disposal indicates massive build-up of arms and ammunition by some unscrupulous politicians, hired thugs, violent cult groups and other undesirable individuals to cause mayhem if they did not win their primaries.’’
He announced a reward for information leading to the recovery of massive arms and ammunitions hideout in Edo state, saying such information would be treated with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.
Mr. Adebanjo who noted and recalled the recent political violence in the state where political hirelings openly wielded and fought one another with dangerous weapons at ward congresses warned perpetrators of such violence to cease henceforth or face the consequence.
“A situation where the election proper will be turned into a war zone will not be tolerated by the police as it will constitute a setback to the country’s democratic gains,” he said.
He recalled that recently in Edo state, political thugs openly wielded guns and other dangerous weapons, shot at one another, even in an ordinary ward congress exercise.
The implication, he warned is that if this dangerous trend is not checked now, the election proper is likely to turn into a theatre of war.
“This will constitute a clog in the wheel of the democratic process come 2015, and I assure you that we will not allow or tolerate political thuggery.’’
‘’ The Anti-robbery and other special squads have been directed to identify, raid, and confiscate such illegal weapons and prosecute offenders in a competent law court.’’
“Those whose stock in trade and means of livelihood is thuggery are warned to find alternative and legitimate sources of survival.”
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