Council Poll: Police Foil Attempted Kidnap Of LASIEC Officials

Attempts by political thugs to kidnap Lagos State Independent
Electoral Commission (LASIEC) officials at Orile-Agege were on
Saturday prevented by police operatives.

Thugs numbering over 500 were said to have attempted to invade
polling booths at Mulero to disrupt the Local Government Election,
snatch ballot boxes and kidnap the officials.

Their move was however prevented by Commissioner of Police (CP)
Hakeem Odumosu whose election security convoy arrived the location
at the nick of time with water cannon, armed operatives and ordered
that adjoining streets be cordoned off.

One of the suspected thugs was said to have been arrested.

Prior to the arrival of the security convoy, it was gathered
that the hoodlums had scared electorates and officials with violent
confrontations between factions that left shattered bottles on the
ground.

People were said to have fled the polling areas while electoral
officials were apprehensive.

Our correspondent gathered the police chief also ordered people
who had no business being in the polling area to vacate while he
stayed back with his men till votes were counted and ensured the
electoral officials were escorted to the collation centre in a
police van with armed operatives.

Addressing journalists at the scene, Odumosu said they received
information about alleged attempts by some people to snatch ballot
boxes, falsify results and kidnap officials.

“There are two major parties here – AYPP and APC. On reaching
here, the people said they want to protect their votes. But
protecting their votes with such mammoth crowd was creating another
tension within the locality.

“That was why we asked all of them to go while only party agents
should wait and we stayed with them to count the votes.

“The policemen drafted here acted professionally even in the
state of provocation. Imagine what would have happened if the
policemen that were here earlier had not behaved professionally,
conducted themselves and controlled their emotions.

“The policemen were outnumbered. Despite the fact that they were
armed, they comported themselves. They only called for
reinforcement that they’ve been overwhelmed and that is why we are
here. When we got here we saw almost 2000 people.

“We spoke to them in the spirit of democracy and they all left.
That is why there has not been problem.”

The Police boss, who was accompanied by senior officers, also
visited LASIEC office at Sabo, Yaba, Maryland, Ikotun, Igando,
Iyana Ipaja, Mushin, Isolo, Agbotikuyo and Mulero in Agege area
among others.

Attempts by political thugs to kidnap Lagos State Independent
Electoral Commission (LASIEC) officials at Orile-Agege were on
Saturday prevented by police operatives.

Thugs numbering over 500 were said to have attempted to invade
polling booths at Mulero to disrupt the Local Government Election,
snatch ballot boxes and kidnap the officials.

Their move was however prevented by Commissioner of Police (CP)
Hakeem Odumosu whose election security convoy arrived the location
at the nick of time with water cannon, armed operatives and ordered
that adjoining streets be cordoned off.

One of the suspected thugs was said to have been arrested.

Prior to the arrival of the security convoy, it was gathered
that the hoodlums had scared electorates and officials with violent
confrontations between factions that left shattered bottles on the
ground.

People were said to have fled the polling areas while electoral
officials were apprehensive.

Our correspondent gathered the police chief also ordered people
who had no business being in the polling area to vacate while he
stayed back with his men till votes were counted and ensured the
electoral officials were escorted to the collation centre in a
police van with armed operatives.

Addressing journalists at the scene, Odumosu said they received
information about alleged attempts by some people to snatch ballot
boxes, falsify results and kidnap officials.

“There are two major parties here – AYPP and APC. On reaching
here, the people said they want to protect their votes. But
protecting their votes with such mammoth crowd was creating another
tension within the locality.

“That was why we asked all of them to go while only party agents
should wait and we stayed with them to count the votes.

“The policemen drafted here acted professionally even in the
state of provocation. Imagine what would have happened if the
policemen that were here earlier had not behaved professionally,
conducted themselves and controlled their emotions.

“The policemen were outnumbered. Despite the fact that they were
armed, they comported themselves. They only called for
reinforcement that they’ve been overwhelmed and that is why we are
here. When we got here we saw almost 2000 people.

“We spoke to them in the spirit of democracy and they all left.
That is why there has not been problem.”

The Police boss, who was accompanied by senior officers, also
visited LASIEC office at Sabo, Yaba, Maryland, Ikotun, Igando,
Iyana Ipaja, Mushin, Isolo, Agbotikuyo and Mulero in Agege area
among others.