2023 Election: Tight security in Lagos to avert impending violence
More soldiers and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) were sighted in Lagos following the rising tension over the declaration of results of Saturday’s presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to reports, the security presence was more noticeable in Lagos Island where there were reports of attacks on traders at Balogun and Mandilas markets as well as Abibu Oki Street.
Reports also filtered in about extortion of private motorists in Surulere, Ilaje and Victoria Garden City (VGC) near Ajah.
Other areas with soldiers were Mushin, Ikeja, Ebute Meta, Oshodi, Cele, and Mile Two. It was gathered the development also followed intelligence reports that some people were planning mayhem across the state. The state had, three days before the presidential poll, witnessed the presence of APCs and soldiers on strategic roads.
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On Monday, Police spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, warned that attempts to wreak havoc on any part of the state would be resisted.
Hundeyin, in a Tweet, said, “Intelligence suggests some people have concluded plans to foment trouble and wreak havoc.
“Kindly note that such attempts would be crushed. Our election security architecture has not been drawn down. Anarchy will not be allowed, residents should remain law-abiding and be guided,” he said.
On Balogun and Mandilas incidents, Hundeyin said, “The market association agreed that shops would remain closed yesterday (Sunday) and today (Monday). Igbo traders this (today) morning decided to renege on the agreement and open shops.
“Some hoodlums took it upon themselves to enforce compliance. The police were alerted.
“The hoodlums fled on sighting police vans. Not one shop was vandalised. Not one person was robbed. Not one person was injured. Normalcy was returned and officers remained on the ground.’’
“Don’t fall for tribal bigotry. The complaint was Igbo were being attacked and robbed.
“I investigated and found Igbo traders were chased away by hoodlums over their insistence to open shops, despite an agreement that shops would not open.”
A reporter who visited some parts of the metropolis observed that most business outlets were shut down.
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