Police, DSS Arrest Suspected Vote Buyer With N25.9m In Kaduna

Security operatives in Kaduna have arrested a suspected vote buyer in possession of N25,963,000 cash, just hours before Saturday’s bye-elections were scheduled to begin in parts of the state.

The suspect, identified as Shehu Aliyu Patangi, was apprehended around 3:30 a.m. at a popular hotel along Turunku Road by a joint team of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Spokesman of the Kaduna Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed the money was intended to influence voters and compromise the electoral process. He added that the suspect confessed during interrogation and pleaded for leniency.

Quoting the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, Hassan warned that the Command would not hesitate to take decisive action against anyone attempting to subvert free and fair elections.

“The suspect was arrested with the said amount, believed to have been earmarked for bribing voters. He confessed to the crime and begged for mercy. We wish to reiterate that anyone found attempting to undermine the electoral process will face the full wrath of the law,” CP Muhammad stated.

The Command further cautioned political actors and their supporters against engaging in violence, thuggery, or other unlawful activities, stressing that credible intelligence had revealed plots by some politicians to instigate unrest.