The Sokoto State Police Command reported Wednesday that it had detained a guy who was in possession of 101 PVCs, or permanent voter's cards, belonging to various individuals.
Mohammed Usaini Gumel, the state's commissioner of police, gave a press conference at the police officers' mess in Sokoto and announced that his officers had apprehended a suspect with more than 100 PVCs after receiving reliable information in the state's Sabon Birnin Local Government Area.
The police have not yet located the PVCs' genuine owners, according to the commissioner, but they have learned via their inquiry that they are not all residents of Sabon Birnin, where the suspect was detained.
He called on members of the public,, especially those with cases of missing PVCs, to visit the command headquarters where copies of the PVCs will be displayed for the owner’s identification and collection.
The commissioner said the prosecution of the suspect would be facilitated by the proofs and testimonies of owners who show up at the command headquarters to claim their PVCs.
Gumel also revealed that unclaimed PVCs would be returned to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for further investigation.
He explained that as electioneering periods are approaching, the police in the state would work with other security agencies and the independent national electoral commission for the smooth conduct of the elections.
The police boss further stated that the public should not shy criminals but report them to the police for necessary action.
In another development, the commissioner also decorated newly promoted officers at the command with a charge to redouble their efforts in combating crimes.