By Aliyu Dangida
Irked by the spate of political violence during pre-elections campaign, the Jigawa state gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Aminu Ibrahim Ringim has accused the Jigawa state police of partisanship.
Mal. Aminu said the obvious inability of the police to prosecute political thugs responsible for attacking innocent citizens in most campaign rallies before the Feb. 25 general election is worrisome and threat to democratic dispensation.
Speaking during the signing of peace accord with the gubernatorial candidates held at the Police Headquarters Dutse, Jigawa State, Aminu Ringim said it was quite pathetic and disheartening with the happenings during campaign rallies, adding that some unscrupulous politicians sponsored some youth to attack their opponents.
Ringim explained that the youth who also destroyed bill boards and disrupted peace during campaign leading to the death of innocent citizens in Kazaure and Maigatari while several others were injured, stressed that police in Jigawa state has not come out with any positive information to reduce tension in the affected areas.
The NNPP guber candidate cited example with a business tycoon cum politician in Ringim local government who is going with arm security and suspected thugs with weapons during election while some candidates are going without any security attached to them.
He further called on police and other security agencies in the state to be vigilant and steadfast in the 18th March gubernatorial and state assembly elections to avoid future reoccurrence.
“We don’t want see a repeat of such political violence in our state, we are living in peaceful, we don’t want our peace to be distrupted”. Ringim pleaded.
Responding, the commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ekot Effiom informed the gathering that all cases related to political violence in the state during the 2023 campaign rallies were treated and the suspects were taken to court to pay for what they did.
Mr. Ekot stated further that police will not fold it’s arms to see that innocent citizens been killed and properties destroyed.
Though the police chief could not immediately give the list of the suspected thugs currently being prosecuted by the command.
He, however, warned that anybody found sponsoring youth in the name of thuggery will be ruthlessly dealt with.
