The Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, Ibrahim Kabiru, yesterday raised the alarm that some politicians in the state were arming their thugs with dangerous weapons ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The police chief said intelligence report indicated that those weapons could be used for maiming or killing political opponents.

Speaking in Birnin Kebbi at a meeting with stakeholders on successful conduct of the 2019 elections in the state, he vowed that anyone caught in the act would be prosecuted and jailed.

He said: “Intelligence report has revealed that some politicians in the state gave money to party thugs to buy weapons such as cutlass, knives, bow and arrow and other dangerous ones that are capable of killing or maiming their opponents”.

He said any politician linked with sponsoring thugs with weapons would not only be disqualified, but also fined N500, 000 or sentenced to 12-month imprisonment.

He added: “Aspirants or candidates of the political parties must also desist from hate speech during rallies, campaigns; and the use of electronic or print media to abuse or ridicule opponents is hereby prohibited”.

The police commissioner also warned that anyone who also contravened any of the offences would not be spared.

•Sourced from a Daily Trust report