Many Suspects in Custody for Electoral Offences – Lagos CP

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

He said this during interview with journalists shortly after he returned from Maryland where there were skirmishes.

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

In Oshodi, affected areas are Agboola, Ijaiye, Obisanya, Owolabi, Branco, Adedeji and Owoseni. Three units were affected at Ijaiye and Branco each; one each at Agboola and Obisanya and two at Branco Streets.

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.

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 violate the electoral act or the criminal status of this country.”

The police boss said security agencies anticipated violence in the areas and put measures in place for quick response.

“Multiple teams were put in place to respond in the fastest possible time. One just returned which I led with DC Operations to Mafoluku, especially Branco Street, where there are clusters of polling units that were attacked by thugs.

“They had issues there and we went in. We were able to stabilise the situation, rescue the INEC officials. They are safe now. It is our priority to first protect their lives and ensure they do not come to harm’s way.

“They have been protected and brought to safety here at the command pending when they will take the next action.

“I can confirm several arrests have been made. At this moment I cannot conclusively say the total number of polling units attacked or violence incidents recorded.

“But at the end of the day, we are going to do a post election evaluation and come up with specifics. Miscreants attacked the polling units and made it impossible for the INEC officials to do their jobs.”