No bail for political thugs, Ogun CP warns

The new Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, has warned politicians and political thugs in the state to avoid violence in the coming general elections, saying that anyone caught perpetrating violence will be arrested and prosecuted.

He said this on Thursday at the Ogun command’s headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta, the state capital, during the signing of peace accord by candidates of major political parties in the state.

Chiefs of other security agencies, such as the Directorate of State Security, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Prisons, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, among others, were also present at the event.

Ntomchukwu said he had directed all the Divisional Police Officers and Area Commanders to arrest anyone caught with offensive weapons, both at the campaign venues, and before, during and after the elections.

He said, “Criminals with arms, cutlass and cudgel, who are ready to sniff life out of citizens going about their lawful businesses or have come to witness their candidates’ victory would be ruthlessly dealt with.

“It is my warning and I know that my officers are aware of that too. All the Area Commanders, the Divisional Police Officers, I have told them to arrest anybody; I repeat, anybody who is seen with offensive weapons, clubs, cudgel or any other instruments of violence at the venue of campaign; either before, during or immediately after. We are not going to tolerate that.

“We will not grant bail to anyone found to have contravened this election laws. We will make sure that he is confined because what he is doing is tantamount to robbery or murder.

“When an offence is about destroying lives and properties, I tell you, it falls within the levels with which we are not going to take it lightly. The person will be confined and after the elections, we will prosecute him.”

Ntomchukwu appealed to all stakeholders to play the political game by the rules.

A representative of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Sowunmi, raised the issue of alleged destruction of the party’s candidates’ posters, billboards and campaign vehicles, allegedly by supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

On his own part, the representative of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Adeoluwa Taiwo, said the   governor shared the mandate of the security agencies to ensure free and fair elections in the state.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance governorship candidate, Prof. David Bamgbose, solicited for additinal security men at the party’s rallies and campaign tours.

“We want the security men to treat the political parties equally. We want adequate security at our party’s campaign venues and tours,” he said.

About 70 politicians, made up of National Assembly and State House of Assembly candidates, and governorship candidates of the PDP, APC, Labour Party and Social Democratic Party, among others, signed the Peace Accord.