Anticipated violence: Police heavily man roads as residents vote in Lagos

The Police Command in Lagos State on Saturday, mounted very heavy security posts in the metropolis as residents voted in the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections

Our Correspondent reports that the heavy security presence was coming on the backdrop of apprehensions of likely breakdown of law and order during the polls in Lagos state.

It was recalled that political actors had traded accusations and allegations on plans to frustrate the electorate and violently disrupt the polls.

It was recalled that the police command in the state had deployed 27,000 men and officers for the governorship and house of assembly elections.

Our Correspondent check in various parts of the state revealed heavy security presence mounted on various expressways within the Lagos state metropolis.

The security agents, including the police and military were seen at various points and road intersections, and mounted road blocks with tyres, logs and other items.

Armed security agents, mostly police officers mounted road blocks along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Agege Motor roads, Ipaja road, Pen Cinema and other areas.

It was observed more vehicular movements during the governorship election compared to the Feb. 25 presidential election.
The police were seen stopping vehicles without election tags from moving while also turning them back.

The Divisional Police Officer in Gowon Estate, Mr Suleiman Kabir was also seen on the road stopping and turning back vehicles.

Mr Ibrahim Abioye, one of those stopped by the police told NAN that he was driving to his polling unit to cast his vote when he was stopped by the police.

According to him, he cannot walk down to his polling unit, which was why he drove.

Another woman, Mrs Deborah Olawale, who was asked to go back by the police, said that she was driving to vote in her polling unit.

Our Correspondent also reports that people were seen walking to their different polling units to cast their votes, while some were seen drinking at local joints.