The Kwara State Security Council has called on the police to prosecute all pending cases of thuggery to halt increasing incidence of political thuggery in the State, a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Abdulwahab Oba, said on Thursday.
The council at its meeting headed by the state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, expressed concern that increase in political violence as the general elections approach has created serious security challenges in the State.
Addressing journalists after the council’s meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Isiaka Shola Gold, said the council also resolved that other measures to check political related violence should be implemented by security outfits and the state government.
“In view of the importance of communication to crime fighting and security, council also called for increased levels of advocacy and information dissemination to campaign against thuggery, other forms of political violence and their promoters”, Mr. Gold said.
The council, according to the SSG, also recommended that all candidates for elective posts should sign a covenant with security agencies to maintain peace before, during and after elections.
Mr. Gold explained further that the State Security Council urged the state government and law enforcement agencies to advice owners and operators of hotels to scrutinise lodgers in order to prevent the use of their premises for planning criminal activities.
The Council noted that those who perpetrate thuggery and other forms of political violence often organize illegal activities in hotels and similar establishments.
To discourage these illegal activities while also steering the proliferation of illegal arms in the state, the Council, the statement said, recommended that the state government and law enforcement agencies should engage with owners and operators of hotels to ensure vigilance and scrutinize logers in order to prevent the use of such premises for planning criminal activities, he said.