Kwara State Security Council has called on the police to prosecute all pending cases of thuggery to halt the increasing incidence of political thuggery in the State.
The council, at its meeting headed by the State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, expressed concern about the increase in political violence as the general elections approach. Addressing journalists after the council meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Shola Gold, said the council also resolved that other targeted measures to check political 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”, he added.
The council, according to the SSG, again recommended that all candidates for elective posts should sign a covenant with security agencies to maintain peace before, during and after the elections.
Alhaji Gold further explained 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, as the council noted that those who perpetrate thuggery and other forms of political violence often organize these illegal activities in hotels and similar establishments.