Kwara security council meets to prevent electoral violence

The Kwara state security council has called on the police to prosecute all pending cases of thuggery in order to halt political violence in the state.

At a meeting presided over by Abdulfatah Ahmed, governor of the state, the council expressed worries over increasing security challenges ahead of  the general election.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Isiaka Gold, secretary to the state government, said the council urged the state government and law enforcement agencies to advise owners and operators of hotels to scrutinise those who patronise them in order to prevent the use of their premises for criminal activities.

The council noted that those who perpetrate thuggery and other forms of political violence often use hotels and similar establishments to strategise for their illegal activities.

“To discourage these illegal activities while also containing the proliferation of illegal arms in the state, council recommended that the state government and law enforcement agencies should engage with owners and operators of hotels to ensure vigilance and scrutinise lodgers in order to prevent the use of such premises for planning criminal activities,” he said.

“In view of the importance of communication to crime fighting and security, council also called for increased levels of advocacy and information dissemination to campaign against thuggery, other forms of political violence and their promoters.”

The council also recommended that all candidates for elective posts should sign a covenant with security agencies to maintain peace before, during and after the election.