The Nigeria Police Force has commenced investigations into alleged inciting comments by the Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba; Kuje Area Council Chairman in the Federal Capital Territory, Danjuma Shekwolo; and Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East.
The police also confirmed that 154 persons arrested during the August 15 Osun State governorship election remain under investigation, as authorities continue to examine alleged electoral offences and controversial statements by political actors.
Speaking at a joint security spokespersons’ briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Force spokesperson, Ani Iniedu, said inciting members of the public, particularly in connection with the electoral process, constitutes a criminal offence.
“The law is very clear when it comes to inciting. It is criminal to incite members of the public, especially as you comment on the electoral process,” Iniedu said.
He said the police had questioned Fadahunsi over an alleged threat against members of the Accord Party. “On the issue of the Senator in Osun State, the Council Chairman in the FCT and the Borno Commissioner’s inciting comments, I was part of the team that questioned the distinguished Senator in Osun State.
“The Nigerian Police Force is responsible for maintaining law and order, and we will not shy away from this responsibility, no matter whose ox is gored.”
“Every inciting statement listed here is under investigation presently, and the outcome will be released. We also want to use this opportunity to advise and caution all political stakeholders to desist from such comments,” he said.
The investigations followed controversial remarks attributed to Buba, who reportedly threatened to flog residents who refused to support the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general election.
Similarly, Shekwolo reportedly warned residents of Kuje Area Council that they would have to either vote for the APC in 2027 or leave the council. Fadahunsi, meanwhile, was captured in a video allegedly threatening members of the Accord Party.
On the Osun governorship election, the police spokesperson said 154 suspects arrested as of the morning of the poll were still being investigated.
“I want to confirm that through the elections, as of the morning of the elections, we had arrested about 154 persons, and they are presently being investigated,” he said.
The Force also appealed to members of the public to cooperate with investigators by providing statements and evidence required to prosecute suspected offenders.
Iniedu identified the reluctance of witnesses to come forward as one of the major challenges confronting criminal prosecution in the country.
“One of the challenges I must tell you now that we have, the law states that a case is made when there are two or three witnesses.
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He who alleges must prove his allegations. The challenge we have in Nigeria right now is that most of our witnesses, who have evidence to an incident, do not come forward when it is time to go to court,” he said.
The spokesperson urged members of the public to provide information and evidence without fear, saying their cooperation would assist the police and prosecutors in securing convictions.
“I would refer to you, enlightened members of the public, to come forward without fear and to give your representation so we could help our lawyers in the prosecution of these cases,” he said.
At the briefing, the Force spokesperson also responded to questions about the recent police action against protesting pensioners in Lagos, saying the retirees had the right to demand their entitlements but must do so within the bounds of the law.
He described retirement after meritorious service as a peaceful and dignified stage of life and acknowledged that both serving and retired uniformed personnel faced challenges.
“Every uniformed personnel looks forward to the day when he retires. It’s a peaceful thing to be called a senior citizen after serving your country meritoriously. Officers in uniform have challenges as well as officers who have retired,” he said.
However, he said the rights of pensioners to make demands did not permit them to engage in disorderly conduct or breach public order. “The Nigerian Constitution does not give the right to be disorderly in making your representation,” he said.
According to him, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu had twice invited the pensioners to his office and advised them on lawful channels through which they could present their grievances.
“I’m very aware that the Inspector-General of Police on two occasions called the pensioners to his office and guided them on relevant ways to take up their representation. We have had several breaches from them,” he said.
He recalled that some of the protesters had previously breached the premises of the Presidential Villa in Abuja and blocked major highways in the Federal Capital Territory.
“If you will remember, the protesters breached the premises of the Villa in Abuja. Another blocked several highways in the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
“The law permits the Nigeria Police Force to use proportionate force in the quelling of any riotous gathering,” he said.
He, however, appealed to the pensioners to continue their agitation peacefully and assured them of the police leadership’s support for their grievances.
“I want to use this platform to call on the pensioners to run their representations in an orderly manner. I want to assure them that the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force are behind them in the carrying out of these complaints and representations,” he said.
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