Bye-Election: Bauchi Police Command Arrests 47 Illegal Security Officials At Polling Units
Bye-Election: Bauchi Police Command Arrests 47 Illegal Security Officials At Polling Units
According to the police, only security agencies recognised under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) were authorised to provide security coverage for the bye-elections.
The Bauchi State Police Command says it has arrested 47 persons allegedly posing as operatives of a state-owned security outfit while armed with guns, cutlasses and sticks at polling units during Saturday’s bye-election in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area.
The arrests were made on Saturday, September 19, 2026, as voters went to the polls to elect a representative for the constituency.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, the command said the suspects were apprehended by police personnel deployed for election security after they were found within polling units in possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons.
The command said the arrests followed an earlier warning issued ahead of the elections that state-owned security outfits, quasi-security agencies, private security guards and vigilante groups were prohibited from participating in election security operations.
According to the police, only security agencies recognised under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) were authorised to provide security coverage for the bye-elections.
The command had issued the warning in a press statement dated September 17, 2026, outlining security arrangements for the bye-elections in Disina State Constituency in Shira LGA and Sakwa State Constituency in Zaki LGA.
Despite the directive, the police said 47 operatives claiming to belong to a state-owned security outfit were found at polling units in Disina armed with guns, cutlasses and sticks.
The suspects were immediately taken into custody, while firearms and other dangerous weapons were recovered from them, according to the police.
The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned what he described as a blatant disregard for lawful directives and an attempt to undermine the electoral process.
He subsequently directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bauchi for discreet investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.
The command reiterated its commitment to ensuring a peaceful, credible and hitch-free bye-election across the affected constituencies.
It also warned that any individual or group, regardless of status, found attempting to disrupt the electoral process or cause a breach of peace would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The police urged residents and other members of the public to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities to security authorities.
