A 13-member special team to handle 2023 electoral violence and other related offences has been inaugurated in Sokoto State
The state Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel who inaugurated the committee appointed SP. Nasiru Lawal, the Officer in charge of the Legal Department in Sokoto State Police Command to head the team.
The CP said the establishment of the team was sequel to the directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali.
He said the team is made up of lawyers, forensic investigation crackers and experts within the police.
Gumel said the members of the team have requisite specialty in conducting evidence-based investigations, interrogation and technology-driven prosecution’ processes for the courts to right the wrongs diligently.
The CP said the special team consisted of skillful personnel with mandate to receive, vet, and compile complaints, investigate and bring to justice those found involved in perpetrating wrongful doings before, during and after the elections.
According to him, Police authorities were working with other security agencies in the state and INEC Legal Team, alongside Federal and the State Directorates of Public Prosecutions (DPPs), for the desired legal advice and services needed.
He called on the politicians and the general public to warn their followers to shun violence and similar actions as option for resolving their grievances on any form of perceived injustices before, during and after the elections.
Gumel enjoined the public particularly politicians in the state to prioritise national interest over individual or group interests.
He said the divisions in the team were: Legal/Prosecution, Crack and Prosecution and Report Writing Units, adding that the police were working on alleged viral videos and audios in circulation in the social media where political party bigwigs were instigating followers on self-defence and attacking any election maneuvers suspected during the elections.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman of Tambuwal Local Government Area, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmad, has complained on a viral video in circulation where a rival political party chairman called on loyalists to outrightly attack any suspicious movements during the election.
Ahmad said the complaint was forwarded to all the security agencies in the state to react to such viral videos instigating violence.
He cautioned politicians against misguided utterances and urged security personnel to live up to the expectations.
