Violence has erupted in the Ago Palace Way, Okota area of Lagos where alleged thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are burning used ballot papers, leaving voters in disarray.
Some ballot boxes at Polling Unit 18 located at junction of Ohafia/Ago Palace Way, Okota in Oshodi/Isolo LGA of Lagos State were set on fire.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who witnessed the incident reports that the Polling Unit 23 located on Baba-Ewe Street/Ago Palace Way was also affected by the fire
INEC ad-hoc staff at the polling units as well as voters who came out to cast their votes ran away from the polling centres for safety.
A team of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command wrrr at the scene to apprehend suspects.
As at the time of this report, the INEC ad-hoc staff and voters had yet to return to the units.
Also, at Polling Units, 035 and 036 located at Adeneken St./Alhaji Olusesi Street Junction and Adeneken Street/ Olusesi, Ago Palace Way, respectively, a group of young men in tricycle and motorcycle disrupted the exercise by attempting to force voters to vote for a particular candidate.
A team of SARS intervened, shooting in the air. The team arrested some of the suspects.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Zubairu Muazu, confirmed the crisis at Okota, saying that he had ordered the area commander to be on top of the situation
Voters have taken to social media with videos showing shootings and major disruption.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOlaF0HVbM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
See events as shared on Twitter:
Currently in Ago -Okota . Two people just got shot close to my house ! All we heard is “if you’re not voting for APC “ leave here . We had to run for our lives , they burnt the ballot boxes. This isn’t peaceful . ! Please repost pic.twitter.com/FE5hmz7XUc
— iyawo_material (@iyawo_Material) February 23, 2019
Touts just came to scatter everywhere in my polling unit in okota #Nigeriadecides2019 pic.twitter.com/HwehrUVhE6
— Uche Frank (not a doctor) (@Dr_Glamorous) February 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/Jayy_reel/status/1099289531625422853
@inecnigeria What is your stand on this deliberate and systematic disruption of voting in entire Igbo dominated residential areas of Lagos State?
This is Last Bishop in Okota, Lagos – will these people be disenfranchised??#ElectionNotWar#NigeriaDecides #NigeraDecides2019 pic.twitter.com/wGHCgrE9aU
— 'Demola Olarewaju (@DemolaRewaju) February 23, 2019
AGO PALACE WAY IS UNDER SIEGE.. WARD 16, 17 AND 18… OPC are forcing people to vote ONLY APC… If u refuse to vote PDP, u are pushed out…..Century bus top @inecnigeria
— CHILLY B (@iamChillyB) February 23, 2019
APC thugs just burnt our ballot boxes at ward 018, in Ago palace way, Okota. This is live. I am a witness. This is not a country but a jungle. No security men on sight.
— Ozor1 + Chibu + Ben (@generalbotu) February 23, 2019
Ago Palace Way Okota! God help us 😭 pic.twitter.com/7XMtC6UYMC
— casper. (@ObaCasper_) February 23, 2019