The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 47 people allegedly posing as members of a state-owned security outfit during Saturday’s by-election in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were arrested at various polling units while allegedly carrying guns, cutlasses and sticks, in what the police described as a violation of the Electoral Act and security directives issued ahead of the election.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Saturday.
Habib said the arrests followed the deployment of security personnel to polling units across the constituency to maintain law and order during the election.
“Following our deployment for election duty in Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA, 47 operatives claiming to be members of a state-owned security outfit were arrested within polling units,” he said.
“They were found in possession of guns, cutlasses and sticks, in contravention of the Electoral Act and the security directives earlier issued.”
The police spokesman said the suspects were immediately taken into custody, while firearms and other dangerous weapons allegedly recovered from them were secured as exhibits.
“The suspects were immediately taken into custody. Exhibits, including firearms and other dangerous weapons, were recovered from them,” Habib added.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the incident and directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Habib quoted the commissioner as condemning “this blatant disregard for lawful directives and attempt to undermine the electoral process.”
He said the suspects had subsequently been transferred to the SCID in Bauchi State “for discreet investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.”
The command also reiterated its commitment to maintaining security throughout the electoral process, saying it would take decisive action against individuals or groups attempting to disrupt voting or cause a breach of peace.
The police warned that “any person or group, regardless of status, who attempts to disrupt the electoral process or cause a breach of peace will be decisively dealt with.”
The command urged residents and other stakeholders to remain law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements or activities capable of threatening the peaceful conduct of the election.
The arrests came a day after the Bauchi State Police Command issued security guidelines for the bye-elections in Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA, and Sakwa State Constituency, Zaki LGA.
In the statement issued on Friday, September 18, 2026, the command specifically barred state-owned security outfits, quasi-security agencies, private security guards and vigilante groups from participating in election security operations.
The command stated that “state-owned security outfits, quasi-security agencies, private security guards and vigilante groups are not allowed to participate in election security coverage.”
It further clarified that only security agencies legally recognised under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security were authorised to provide security for the elections.
According to the command, “statutorily recognised security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security are mandated to provide security for the elections.”
The directive was part of measures announced by the police to prevent the presence of unauthorised security groups at polling units and ensure that election security was handled by recognised agencies.
The Disina State Constituency by-election is taking place alongside the Sakwa State Constituency election in Zaki Local Government Area, with security agencies deployed to polling units and other critical locations across the affected constituencies.
The police command said its personnel would continue to monitor the electoral process and respond to security threats in accordance with the law.
West Trybe reports that the arrest of the 47 suspected impersonators highlights the restrictions placed on unauthorised security groups during Nigeria’s electoral processes, particularly the prohibition on non-statutory outfits operating around polling units and other election locations.
