TheCable

The Zamfara police command says its operatives have arrested 40 persons suspected to have vandalised and looted government facilities, party offices of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and houses of politicians in the state.

Mohammed Shehu, spokesperson of the police in the state, announced the development in a statement on Friday.

On Tuesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Dauda Lawal, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the March 18 governorship poll in the state.

Lawal polled 377,726 votes to defeat incumbent Bello Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 311,976 votes.

Shehu said the suspects took advantage of the jubilation of the announcement of the results of the governorship election in the state and began to destroy and loot properties.

“The Zamfara state police command has arrested forty (40) suspected hoodlums who took advantage of the announcement of Governorship result on Tuesday 21st March 2023 and embarked on jubilation that later turned to violence, leading to the destruction and looting of government facilities, APC Party offices and individual houses mostly those of politicians,” the statement reads.

“The commissioner of police, CP Kolo Yusuf, who led joint police and other security agencies brought the situation under control and thereafter arrested twenty-six (26) suspects in connection with the incident. Area commanders and DPOs also embarked on a similar exercise in their respective areas to avert escalation.

“The ongoing investigation by the police detectives led to the arrest of another fourteen (14) suspects and recovery of looted and vandalised properties.

“The commissioner of police while appealing for calm, reassures for diligent investigation with a view to arresting fleeing suspects and their collaborators for prosecution as well as recover the looted property.”