Agents of the Department of State Services have detained two political thugs for inciting mayhem in Kano state.
The DSS in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Dr. Peter Afunanya, gave the names of the suspects taken into its custody as Sharu Abubakar Tabula and Isma’il Iliyasu Mangu.
The two men recorded video messages and posted them online with a strong warning to deal ruthlessly with any person in Kano who votes against their preferred party and candidate in the governorship race on Saturday.
But they were trailed and arrested by DSS operatives after which the service released the pictures of the two men aged 37 and 52 and warned that anyone who threatens public peace during the election will be dealt with.
The DSS said: “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it has arrested the duo of Sharu Abubakar Tabula and Isma’il Iliyasu Mangu for deliberately inciting violence in parts of Kano State.
“In those potentially harmful messages, the two men specifically championed certain political interests and directly called on their supporters to violently attack those opposed to them, including security personnel during the 18th March, 2023 Governorship and House of Assembly election in the State.
“As a result of this development, a particular political party in Kano has threatened to organise protest march in the metropolis as well as storm offices of some of the security agencies on 16th March, 2023 in solidarity for the suspects.
“While the Service alerts the public of this planned illegal action, it calls on the concerned party to shelve it forthwith or be ready to face the consequences.
“The DSS assures that it will not idly watch misguided persons or groups undermine the peace and security of the state.
“The leadership of the said party should rein in its members and urge them to desist from conducts capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in Kano and its environs before, during and after the scheduled election.
“Meanwhile, the Service is collaborating with sister security agencies to ensure that adequate security is provided for a successful electoral exercise”.
It will be recalled that apart from the arrests of the two suspects of political violence in Kano, the Service recently arrested similar subversive elements who had threatened violence in other parts of Nigeria.
But it is nit clear whether they have been freed or arraigned in court.
It will also be recalled that the DSS had on 8th March, 2023, enjoined politicians to engage constructively and shun violence, fake news and hate speech before, during and after the 2023 polls.