Gombe NNPP accuses police of taking N55m during arrest of officials
By Chima Azubuike
Some officials of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, on Friday alleged that N55m meant for the allowances of the party’s agents during Saturday’s election was taken away when the police arrested them, while they were about sharing tags and sample ballot papers to their agents.
According to the Chairman of the party in Billiri Local Government Area, Ambrose Mairungu, the Police and later men of the ‘Operation Hattara’, a Gombe State combined security outfit, had molested and inflicted injuries on two of their members.
He said, “We were sorting out tags for our Local Government agents and not long after, Police pounced into the house threatening to arrest all of us.
“When we resisted, asking for reasons and their arrest warrant, they noticed we know our rights and left. Barely five minutes later, they returned with the operation hattara including some known faces, Mairago, Sakali and a reknown driver.
“They started hitting us with sticks pulling Abdulmajid on the grounds and inflicting injuries on him. They also met Mela Lashiru Lele in his car outside and gave him the beating of his life.
“In the process, they left with N55m meant for our agents with the samples of ballot papers meant for enlightening our members.
“The sample ballots papers had photos of our candidates and it’s not a crime. Even before printing the papers, we went to INEC and asked since the ballot papers had no NNPP.
“That was what we did which is not a crime and we wanted to share it to LGA’s when they pounced on us badly injuring two of our members.”
Responding, The Police in Gombe denied allegation of taking N55m NNPP agents allowances during arrest of the party’s official on Thursday evening at a private residence in Gombe.
Command’s Public Relations Officer PPRO, Mahid Abubakar, explained that when the party officials were brought to the Police Command, all issues resulting in the arrest of the officials were resolved before the Commissioner of Police without the mention of any missing amount by the party officials.
He also dispelled as false alarm, in an official statement, the news going round on social media platforms that some agents of a certain political party (referring to the NNPP) were apprehended in Gombe State thumb-printing ballot papers ahead of the Gubernatorial elections.
Mahid said, Police investigation revealed that supporters of the political party were using sample ballot papers to educate their would-be voters on how to vote for their candidate, which was written boldly on the sample ballot.
“Given the foregoing, the Command urges the public to disregard the news because it was not only misleading but also a figment of the imagination of mischief makers who are bent on causing chaos in the state,” Abubakar added.
