RismadarVoice Reporters
September 19, 2026
The Bauchi State Police Command says it has arrested 47 people allegedly posing as state-backed security personnel at polling units during the bye-election in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area.
The suspects were reportedly found carrying firearms, cutlasses, sticks and other items described as dangerous weapons.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Bauchi, Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Mr Habib, a superintendent of police, said the suspects were arrested by officers deployed to provide security during the election.
He said the arrests followed the command’s earlier warning that state-owned security outfits, quasi-security agencies, private guards and vigilante groups were not authorised to participate in election security operations.
According to him, only security agencies recognised under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) were permitted to provide security during the bye-elections in Disina State Constituency and Sakwa State Constituency in Zaki Local Government Area.
“Despite this directive, 47 suspects were found at different polling units within Disina Constituency, armed with firearms and other dangerous weapons,” Mr Habib said.
The police said the suspects had been taken into custody, while the firearms, cutlasses, sticks and other items recovered from them were retained as exhibits.
The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned what he described as a violation of lawful directives and an attempt to undermine the electoral process.
He ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Bauchi for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The command said it would continue to provide security throughout the electoral process and warned individuals and groups against actions capable of disrupting the election or threatening public peace.
It also urged residents to comply with the law and report suspicious activities to the police.
