Many Suspects In Custody For Electoral Offences, Says Lagos CP

Lagos Police Commissioner (CP) Owohunwa Idowu on Saturday said many suspects have been arrested over election-related offences and exhibits recovered from them.

He spoke with reporters after he returned from Maryland where there were skirmishes.

Idowu also visited Mafoluku in Oshodi and Surulere where armed thugs disrupted the voting exercise as well as snatched and burnt ballot boxes with papers in them.

The Nation reports that in Oshodi, the affected areas are Agboola, Ijaiye, Obisanya, Owolabi, Branco, Adedeji and Owoseni. Three units were affected at Ijaiye a d Branco each; one each at Agboola and Obisanya and two at Branco Streets
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It was yet to be confirmed the number of polling units affected at Adedeji and Owoseni Streets, as well as Dipo Olubi, Itire and Aguda areas of Surulere.

Our Correspondent who monitored election security in Lagos observed that some voters took extra measures to prevent thugs from attacking their units including carrying dogs to their voting centres.

Giving situation reports, CP Idowu said the exercise was very peaceful and organised in Epe axis.

He said: “We visited about five polling units in Epe and there was this family way of approaching the process. I interacted with them and they kept insisting that Epe was calm. To them, they are a peaceful family, so, regardless of the political divide they remain one family and work towards ensuring that they maintain peace.

“What we are dealing with here got to do with human conduct. It could be unpredictable or driven by passion, emotion or even criminal intent. We recorded specific instances of thuggery and violence.

“These things will always happen and when they do we will emplace a response plan to be able to respond to most of those incidences. We have made arrests and recoveries. “The Nigeria police, military, DSS and all others have been working as a team since morning that we have been having those isolated challenges.

“The police didn’t do it alone, even the citizens sometimes trigger our actions to come to their rescue.”

“We should jointly condemn thuggery, violence or anything that violates the electoral act or the criminal status of this country.”