Election: Lagos police arrest 17 suspected thugs
20 March 2023 |
4:36 am
Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, said 17 persons have been arrested during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state for various offences.
A police officer tries to calm a situation at a polling station during local elections, in Lagos, on March 18, 2023. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)
Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, said 17 persons have been arrested during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state for various offences.
Spokesperson for the Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, told The Guardian that the suspects were arrested in Oshodi, Badagry, Shomolu, Ijegun, Sangotedo, Lamgbasa, Ajah, Iyana Ipaja and Ikoyi, but did not mention the number of suspects arrested in each area.
Recall that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, has denied that there was widespread violence in the state on Saturday March 18, 2023. The CP said that the police responded swiftly to most of the attacks as expected.
“It is true that we’ve recorded instances of violence in some areas within the state. The incidents were not as widespread as to affect the general dynamics of the process.
“Most of the instances were properly responded to by the police because we anticipated them,” he said. But Hundeyin said the suspects were involved in 21 cases, which include, attacks on INEC officials, vandalism and ballot box snatching.
Others are: fake INEC ID possession, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, assault occasioning harm and illegal possession of firearms.
Hundeyin said: “All 17 suspects had been taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti-Yaba for further investigation. What I can assure is that anyone found culpable will be arrested and dealt with in accordance with law.
“They will be charged when an investigation is completed and no one can tell when the investigation will end or how far it will take us.
“We received distressed calls and we responded. I have read so many testimonies from people that the police saved the day. There was no challenge beyond our capacity.”
Speaking on police officers’ conduct during the election, he said: “Officers’ performance during the governorship election was far better than in the Presidential election.”
Speaking on possible post-election violence, he said: “We are still on the ground, we have not wound down on election security, we are fully prepared.
On investigation of the Chairman of Lagos State Parks Management Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo for his election day threats, Hundeyin said: “The force PRO, Muyiwa Adejobi is handling the matter.”
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