Olalekan Olabulo
One person has been feared killed and many others injured as violence marred the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Lagos State.
Hoodlums also destroyed ballot papers and boxes in the Fadeyi, Ijegun Ajegunle, Oojo, Oke Afa and Ajah areas of the state.
The unidentified man, suspected to be a thug, was said to have been shot dead by a policeman after he allegedly snatched ballot papers at Star time Estate, Jamtok Ago Palace Way.
Many other people were also injured as gunmen invaded Ijegun, Isolo, FESTAC, Oojo, Somolu, Berger and other parts of the state
In Okota, a suspected thug was killed for allegedly trying to snatch a ballot box after intimidating voters.
An eyewitness, Efe told the Sunday Tribune, “The deceased guy and some of his colleagues arrived at the polling booth inside the estate very early .”
” They started intimidating people .scaring non-Yoruba s not to come and vote in the area ” the eyewitness
The eyewitness continued that ” They broke some bottles near the polling units and people started away ”
Efe also added that ” The other members of his gang stayed away from the polling unit but the one that was shot moved to the polling unit .”
” Suddenly, he moved to the ballot paper and attempted to move the ballot box away and the policeman on duty shot him .”
In the Ijagemo area of Ijegun, it was gathered that the election was going on well when the hoodlums arrived at the polling units and started attacking people freely for not voting for their party.
Ten people were injured by armed men, who invaded Ijagemeo in about eight motorcycles and started attacking voters.
One of the victims, Kelechi Nwaiwu stated that he was about to cast his vote when the hoodlums appeared from nowhere and started shooting sporadically at the electorates.
Kelechi says ” My phone and wristwatch were also snatched from me at Samuel Adeoti polling units where I was voting. It was the Nigeria Red Cross that treated those of us who sustained gunshot wounds.”
Another victim’, Yusuf Olanrewaju told the Sunday Tribune “In my polling unit at Ijegun primary school, some thugs came and disrupted the election process even when the counting had not begun,
He added that he ” went forward trying to stop them when three hefty men came out from three vehicles and some bike riders attacked those of us who are not voting APC.”
In Oojo, another suspected thug, who attempted to snatch a ballot box was also attacked and injured.
In the Sangoredo area of Ajah, five persons said to be from the Eastern part of the country were injured as hoodlums chased away voters
The image maker in charge of the state’s police command, Benjamin Hunfeyin confirmed ” some skirmishes in some part of the ” and insisted that the police promptly responded and deployed personnel there.
He however claimed that ” The guy that was reported dead is still alive and responding to treatment at the hospital .”
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