Men of the Nigerian Army have arrested four persons for electoral offences in Lagos.
The suspects who were arrested, on Saturday, had attempted to disrupt elections at different locations within Ikeja, Mushin and Oshodi when they were arrested.
The Nigerian Xpress Correspondent learnt that one of the suspects was allegedly arrested at Onigbongbo while fighting at a polling unit by operatives of the 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army.
Information also had it that a soldier and one civilian were arrested at Mushin for breaching movement restriction order.
Commander 9 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Abiodun Lagbaja, who confirmed the arrest said a suspect was also nabbed with charms at a polling unit in Oshodi while trying to cause a fight.
According to him, “We made three arrests. One was at Onigbongbo involving a young man who was causing trouble. We arrested a soldier and a civilian around Mushin.
“ The soldier was not on election duty and he was breaching the movement restriction order. Because he was with a civilian, it was believed they had intent to cause trouble.”
Similarly, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Lagos State Police Command, CP Zubairu Muazu, also said some electoral offenders were arrested .
The Commissioner of Police who stated this while addressing journalists said he could not confirm the number of arrests made.
However, sources have it that a total of 15 suspects had been arrested while trying to disrupt the election in various parts of Lagos.
“ I have reports of few arrests made within Lagos but I cannot give you details because i am yet to receive full reports from the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs),” he said.
Muazu who also visited major collation centres in the state, warned party chieftains, candidates to stay off collation centres.
In his words, “ Collation has started in the four wards we have visited in Ikeja. We have seen adequate security in those areas and we have not received complaints from any of the officers over the collation exercises.
“ Each party is supposed to send a representative to the collation centres. Only the party agents are to be at the collation centres. No candidates who have contested election should be here and no party chieftain.
“ Only electoral officers bringing in results and party agents are wanted here. Any candidate or party official found here has contravened the Electoral Act and would be arrested.”
The CP further stated that since the electoral process in the state has been peaceful, there is no fear of any post election violence in state.
