The Sokoto state Police Command have arrested one Nasiru Idris of Sabon Birni local government area for alleged illegal possession of 101 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Usaini Gumel also on Thursday, decorated six newly promoted officers to new ranks.
Briefing journalists, Gumel said that the suspect was arrested following intelligence information received by the Police on October 10 at Sabon Birni, headquarters of the local government.
The CP called on the public, especially those whose cards were either missing or misplaced to come to the command headquarters and check.
Gumel said that the command will return the unclaimed cards to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“It is envisaged that owners of these cards are not only from Sabon Birni local government, but could be from other parts of the state because we could not trace the rightful owners of the PVCs,” he said.
Read CP Gumel’s statement below:
As part of the commitment of the Sokoto State Police Command in towards supporting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct free, fair and credible elections and to ensure the integrity of all the electoral processes; starting from campaigns and ending in voting, one of the police detachments acted on credible intelligence and painstakingly on 10th day of October, 2022 at about 1200hrs and picked up one Nasiru Idris ‘M’ of Sabon Birni LGA for being suspected to having in his possession some permanent voters cards (PVCs).
Upon diligent investigation, a total of One Hundred and One (101) PVCs, which the suspect could not give account of, were recovered from his possession. It is envisaged that owners of these cards are not only from Sabon Birni LGA but could be from other parts of the state as the police is yet to trace the rightful owners.
In view of this development, the police in this command is calling on all the media outlets in the state, to reach out to the public so that those whose PVCs are either missing or misplaced could come to the Sokoto State Police Headquarters to check the names on the display at the information bulletin board for claims. Their proofs and testimonies will further avail the Police Command with more evidence to prosecute the suspect.
After one month from the date of this briefing, all unclaimed PVC’s will afterwards be returned to INEC for further necessary action.