The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 47 people who allegedly presented themselves as members of a state-owned security outfit at polling units during Saturday's by-election in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area.

Police said the suspects were found with firearms, cutlasses and sticks despite an earlier directive prohibiting unauthorised security groups from taking part in election-security operations.

The arrests were disclosed in a statement issued on September 19 by the command's spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib.

According to the police, officers deployed to protect voters and election officials encountered the suspects at polling units in the constituency.

The command said the suspects claimed to belong to a state-owned security outfit but were not among the security personnel authorised to provide protection during the election.

Police recovered firearms and other weapons from the suspects and took them into custody for further investigation.

The command had issued a notice on September 17 explaining the security arrangements for the by-elections in Disina and Sakwa state constituencies.

Under those arrangements, security coverage at polling units was assigned to agencies recognised through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

State-owned security outfits, private guards, vigilante groups and other unauthorised organisations were excluded from election-security operations.

Police said the suspects' alleged presence at polling units with weapons breached the directives issued ahead of voting.

Bauchi Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu directed that the arrested persons be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

The command said the suspects could face prosecution following the conclusion of the investigation.

The arrests are allegations under investigation. The police statement does not establish that all 47 suspects have been convicted of any election-related offence.

The September 19 by-elections were held to fill vacant legislative seats in Bauchi and three other states.

In Bauchi, voting took place in Disina State Constituency in Shira Local Government Area and Sakwa State Constituency in Zaki Local Government Area.

The police urged residents to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities around election facilities.

The arrests highlight the importance of distinguishing authorised election-security personnel from groups whose deployment has not been approved for polling-unit duties.

Further information from investigators will be needed to establish the identity of the suspects, the origin of the recovered weapons and whether criminal charges will be filed.