The Kwara State Police Command has announce the ban of all forms of political rallies in public places in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Agboola Oshodi-Glover told journalists on Monday in Ilorin, that “we want to have a level playing ground where all parties would be protected by the police.”

Calling on politicians to abide by the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and the Public Order Act, Oshodi-Glover said the decision was the outcome of the meeting the command recently had with all the political parties in the state.

He said: “We do not want violence and everybody should obey the Public Order Act and the electoral Act. They should all be guided by the laws of the country. We warned against unguarded statements, utterances and use of thugs and dangerous weapons.

“For now since the electoral law has not allowed it, we do not want anybody or group of persons to want to organise any rally for now. Although parties are allowed to hold their meetings in party offices or any private residence they can get. Of course they have to write to inform us so that we can give them security coverage.

 “We told them that the police are always there to protect lives and property and to uphold the law. We are all happy and we are starting the years on a good note.”

In another development, the command has arrested seven suspects in connection with the violence that led to the death of four persons at Baboko area of Ilorin by the youths who were fighting over a girlfriend.

The police commissioner told newsmen that efforts were on to arrest other suspects still at large and assured that they would be charged  to court after investigations.

He also disclosed arrest of four members of a armed robbery gang that have stolen belongings of residents in the town with recovery of items such as a Toyota Corrola, three motorcycles two cut to size guns and three sharp cutlasses from the robbers.

He said the police are on the trail of other members of the gang yet to be arrested and assured that all the suspects would be brought to justice.