Lagos – A Policeman and two other persons were arrested yesterday at the Agege area of Lagos with thumb-printed ballot papers and boxes during the just concluded local government election.
Eye witness revealed that the Policeman was arrested escorting two other yet to be identified persons in a commercial bus to an unknown destination .
According to the source, the suspects were taken to Area ‘G’ Command, Ogba where they were detained.
It was also gathered that five other suspects were arrested for various electoral offenses at Ikeja area of the metropolis, while many suspected political party thugs were arrested in Mushin for beating up voters with horse whips and attempting to derail the electoral process.
Authoritative source revealed that the five persons who were arrested in Ikeja were being interrogated at Area ‘F’ Police Command.
Meanwhile, hoodlums were said to have attacked officials of the state electoral body and party agent for Accord party, Mrs. Abimbola Adewusi in Mushin.
Source disclosed that the hoodlums allegedly loyal to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) attempted to snatch the ballot boxes along Post office road in Mushin.
It was learnt that sporadic shooting rented the air in the area to scare policemen and voters who were on ground to provide security.
Also in Martin’s street in Mushin, hoodlums engaged themselves in a free-for-all and it took the intervention of the Commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni and officer from the Special Anti Robbery Squad led by CSP Mohammed Ahmed to scare them away.
There was low turnout of voters at some parts of Lagos Island, Ikeja, Alausa, Ogba and Agege due to early downpour of rain.
Also some major roads at many parts of the metropolis was turned to a football fields where youths took over the roads.
At ward E, Oregun in Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, the turn-out was low.
APC Chieftain in that area, Eze Uche Dimgba said despite the poor turn-out of voters ,there was no crisis, adding that the state was an APC State and would not experience crisis.
The Area Commander, Area D Police command, Akinbayo Olasoji who led patrol team to trouble spots in watcher area told newsmen that prospective thugs were checked.
But, at Mushin ward B1, Odiolowo LCDA, the Accord Party, alleged that the ruling party thugs snatched two ballot boxes and papers and replaced them with their own.
According to Adelusi who spoke amidst tears, “I am a member of the Accord party, I was beaten black and blue by the APC thugs. They snatched our boxes and replaced it with theirs. I thank God that we are with the serial numbers.We will cross-check.
It was also gathered that at St. Martins Secondary School, Adeleye collation centre in Mushin, thugs were beating people with canes.They watched the party people vote for their candidates.If it is not APC, the voter will be beaten with canes.We thank God for the quick intervention of the State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni who arrived on time
The CP who was on ground at the polling station to ward off possible skirmishes said, “We are here to maintain peace.we are going to remain here till the votes are counted so that there won’t be fight. We have arrested many people for various offences, but, I won’t be able to tell you how many suspects until after collation from different divisions.But I can confirm that many persons were arrested especially in Ogba where someone was shot by thugs. We arrested some thugs in mushin and other parts of the state”.
