By Our Correspondent
Security operatives in Kano State have arrested hundreds of heavily armed political thugs attempting to disrupt the ongoing by-election in parts of the state.
The arrests took place as the thugs reportedly tried to infiltrate Bagwai Local Government Area, where voting was already underway.
Confirming the development, the Kano State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ambassador Abdu Zango, told newsmen that the swift action of security personnel helped avert a major breakdown of law and order.
“The thugs were moving into Bagwai, where voting was taking place, when the security agents apprehended them,” Zango said.
He further disclosed that there was another security scare around Shanono Local Government, a known flashpoint during elections in the state.
“Some thugs around Shanono nearly disrupted the movement of election materials,” the REC explained, adding that “it took the intervention of security personnel to restore normalcy in the area.”
Despite the attempted disruptions, Zango assured that the presence of heavy security deployments had so far ensured relative peace and smooth conduct of the exercise across the state.
The by-election in Kano is one of several being conducted by INEC across Nigeria to fill vacant legislative seats following recent court rulings and resignations.
