The Kogi State Police Command has warned politicians to desist from using their supporters as thugs as the Police authority would not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone fomenting trouble during and after the election in the state no matter how highly placed.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, made this call while parading   some suspected political thugs, and others arrested for other criminal offences.

He also warned those in possession of arms and ammunition to surrender to the Police before they are caught.

The 23 suspects being paraded were arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in different locations of the state.

While some of the suspects were arrested for robbery, some were arrested for illegal possession of fire arms, and kidnapping.

Eight of the men were arrested for attempting to destroy a campaign rally at Ofu Local Government Area in the state.

While showing pressmen round items recovered from some of them, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu warned politicians in the state to caution their followers, as the Police remained determined to weed criminal elements out of Kogi State.