Kaduna, Nigeria (BN24) – Security operatives have arrested a suspect with a staggering N25.9 million in cash, allegedly intended for vote-buying just hours before the scheduled bye-elections in parts of Kaduna state, Nigeria. The suspect, Shehu Aliyu Patangi, was apprehended around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, in a coordinated operation involving the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS). The arrest took place at a well-known hotel on Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis.
The Kaduna State Police Command confirmed that an initial investigation revealed the cash was intended to influence voters and disrupt the integrity of the upcoming elections. DSP Mansir Hasan, the police spokesperson, stated that Patangi had admitted to his involvement in the illegal activity during questioning, expressing remorse and pleading for leniency.
In a stern statement, the Commissioner of Police for Kaduna State, CP Rabiu Muhammad, warned that the police would take no leniency toward individuals found attempting to undermine the electoral process. “The suspect was arrested with a significant sum believed to be earmarked for voter bribery. He has confessed and begged for mercy. We want to make it clear that anyone caught trying to subvert the electoral process through vote-buying, thuggery, violence, or any illegal activity will face the full force of the law,” the CP emphasized.
The police also issued a firm warning to political figures and their supporters to refrain from acts of violence or any behaviour that could disrupt the election process. Intelligence gathered by security agencies indicated that certain politicians were planning to instigate unrest, prompting a strategic deployment of security personnel to monitor polling units, collation centers, and other potential flashpoints.
“The command will not hesitate to deal decisively with those who attempt to create chaos. Whether high-ranking or not, anyone involved in violence, vote-buying, thuggery, or intimidation will be arrested and prosecuted,” the statement continued.
Ahead of the elections, the police assured the public of robust security measures to ensure the peaceful conduct of the voting process. Residents were encouraged to participate in the elections without fear of intimidation, confident that their safety would be prioritized before, during, and after the polling.
