TheCable

At least five suspected political thugs have been arrested with guns in Anambra. 

Ikenga Tochukwu, police spokesperson in Anambra, confirmed the development in a terse statement shared with TheCable.

He said the thugs were arrested on Saturday in Ihiala LGA, and that pump-action guns were recovered from them.

“Five armed thugs (have been) arrested in Ihiala Anambra State where four pump actions (were) recovered. Further development shall be communicated,” the statement reads.

Briefing journalists on the development,  Aderemi Adeoye, commissioner of police in charge of elections in Anambra, said the suspects were “brought into the secretariat” by a local government official.

“The second one is at Iyiala LGA, where a local government official brought in armed thugs to the secretariat. The thugs have been arrested — they are five in number,” he said.

The police commissioner said the suspects were arrested, adding that an investigation was ongoing.

“Five pump-action guns have been recovered and the thugs have been detained,” he said.

“We did warn from the outset, that we will not tolerate thuggery and snatching of boxes and we will come hard on anyone who violates the electoral act and guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of this election,” he added.