The Ogun State Police Command has warned hoteliers in the State not to harbour thugs before, during and after the coming general elections.
It added that any hotel that ignored the warning and haboured thugs among guests would be shut down.
The command’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, gave this warning on Wednesday in Abeokuta while talking on measures put in p;ace by the police command in the state towards having violence-free elections.
Adejobi explained that from intelligence reports, the command had established that some politicians camped thugs in hotels and used them to unleash mayhem on their opponents and members the public.
He said, “We have sent signals to those who may want to come to the state, either before, during or post election periods, to stay away from the state.
"They cannot come to cause any trouble in Ogun State. We have been talking to hoteliers who believe they will be making good money by harbouring these thugs.
"Any hotel in the state found harbouring criminals, the government will do the needful to make sure the hotel is sealed up, and does not operate for a long period. We have warned them and we are going to have another set of meetings with stakeholders."
While talking about other measures to avert political clashes, he explained that the command had held series of meetings with political leaders in the state and streamlined their campaign schedules in such a way that no two political would have their campaign rallies in the same town the same day.
He said, "The Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress have had their presidential campaign rallies in the State, and there was no incident.
"We have been able to work with political parties and stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, to harmonise the schedules of the political parties so that they will not be having rally in a town simultaneously."
Adejobi observed that the strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria nationwide, had led to the congestion in the police cells across the state, because suspects could not be taken to the courts.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, had directed that those who committed bailable offences, should be granted bail and later arraigned when the courts open.
Credit: The Punch
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