With 98 days to the 2023 General Election, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has warned that political thugs armed with any sort of weapons and inspired by any political actors to advance illegal act in the country, will be brought to Justice, regardless of their political status.
The IGP who gave the warning while speaking at a meeting with political parties and other stakeholders in preparation for the 2023 General Election in Abuja, noted that most of the recorded violent incidents often resulted from political extremism, misinformation, incitement, and the desperation of strategic actors within the political field.
He assured that machineries have been put in place to identify and bring any political actor and the foot soldiers they might be motivating to engage in violence at political rallies, to deserved justice.
Describing electoral violence as the most dangerous threat to the nation’s democracy, the Police Boss asserted that violent political actors usually give wrong direction to their party faithful and encourage them to resort to the use of threat to frustrate competing political parties.
He expressed concerns over reports of some state governors who encourage political thugs and subnational security outfits under their control to disrupt seamless campaign activities of parties with whom they hold opposing political views.
He warned that violence in this political season will not be accepted but treated as a crime that is well captured under extant criminal laws both in it’s planning and execution.
