The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a suspected agent with N25 million cash allegedly packaged for vote-buying in Saturday’s bye-election.
A statement by the command spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the suspect, Shehu Patangi, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday at a popular hotel located along Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis, where he was said to be coordinating the distribution of funds for vote buying to influence voters in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election.
Hassan said a total cash of N25.9 million was recovered from the suspect, believed to be earmarked to induce voters to compromise the electoral process.
According to the police, the suspect, during preliminary interrogation, confessed to the crime and pleaded for leniency.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, has expressed appreciation to other sister agencies for the synergy and swift collaborative action.
He warned that anyone, regardless of status, found attempting to undermine the electoral process will face the full wrath of the law.
Muhammad assured residents of the police’s commitment to providing maximum security before, during and after the elections, and called on them to go out and exercise their franchise peacefully and lawfully without fear or intimidation.
