Sporadic shooting and unrest in Iperu Remo town of Ikenne Local Government as hoodlums suspected to be political thugs snatched away two ballot boxes at Polling Unit 05, Ward 03 in the Ayegbami area of the town.
The hoodlums, whose number could not be ascertained, had invaded the polling unit on Saturday in motorcycles and started shooting into the air to chase away voters.
They however, succeeded at escaping with one of the ballot boxes, before security operatives, particularly the policemen on election duty at the nearby road intersection could respond with a corresponding gunshot to the scene while the Assistant Polling Officer (APO) for the unit, Alalade Babatunde was beaten up.
Confirming the incident, the Ogun police command mentioned there was violence in several parts of the state at the ongoing governorship and assembly elections.
The state commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, while addressing newsmen in Iperu said the police in conjunction with other security agencies arrested ballot snatchers, vote buyers and restricted movement violators.
“Have gone around and patrolled the state capital intensively, we’ve also patrolled some of the local government outside Abeokuta metropolis like Iperu, and Ikenne axis and we will continue with our patrols.
“What I have seen so far is commendable, we have been able to suppress attempts by some people who want to create problems for the electoral processes.
“We have been able to take care of INEC facilities and an enabling environment for the ordinary citizens to come out and cast their vote.
“I admitted to the fact that we have a few isolated cases of violence, most of that incidences were nib in the bud, we were able to take care of them before they become issues that can cause major concise for law and others.
“Where certain people attempt to break the law that’s how criminals behave anywhere no matter how tight the security is, people will try to breach the law but your job is to constantly reinforce the security conduct” he concluded.
