By Paul Adaji (ABUJA) –
Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has announced the arrest of over 700 offenders for alleged violation of electoral laws during the 2023 general elections in the country.
He made the disclosure in Abuja on Monday during a meeting with Commissioners of Police from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as other senior officers.
The presidential and National Assembly elections were conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on February 25, while the Governorship and State Assembly elections took place on March 18, 2023.
The IGP specifically said that the exact figure of those arrested currently stands at 781.
Giving more details regarding the arrest, IGP Alkali Baba said 185 cases of electoral infractions were recorded during the presidential election with 203 arrests made.
For the Governorship and State Assembly elections, the police chief stated that 304 electoral breaches were recorded and 578 offenders were arrested.
The IGP said the meeting with the Commissioners and other leaders within the force has become critical in the face of the threats to national security by some political actors who he says are trying to undermine the peace of the country after the elections.
He condemned the action of the political actors who are engaged in ethnic profiling in advancing their interests and urged Nigerians to rather strive towards unity.