Imo Election: Security Operatives Foil Attempt To Abduct INEC Officials, Materials

• Heavily armed soldiers were seen at different entry points into the city, stopping and searching vehicles, as well as interrogating the drivers and passengers before allowing them to go.
• Security personnel deployed in the centre quickly repelled the attempt by the thugs to whisk away the INEC officials into their waiting vehicle.

“The thugs were coming to hijack the INEC officials and election materials,” an unarmed Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer at the scene told NAN.

At several points of entry into the city, troops with heavy weapons were observed halting, examining, and questioning cars before releasing the drivers and occupants.

A planned attempt by purported political thugs to kidnap INEC workers and remove poll supplies from Imo State was stopped on Saturday by security personnel.

It was gathered that the attempt to abduct the commission officials occurred at a Registration Area Center in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area.

Security personnel deployed in the centre quickly repelled the attempt by the thugs to whisk away the INEC officials into their waiting vehicle.

An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria that the armed security operatives fired into the air from a distance, when voters in the area raised an alarm over the presence of the thugs.

“The thugs quickly retreated into their bus and sped off on hearing the sound of the gun,” the eyewitness told NAN on the condition of anonymity.

An unarmed Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) operative at the scene told NAN that “the thugs were coming to hijack the INEC officials and election materials.

“But luck ran out on them when some people started shouting during a stampede caused by fear.”

“It was their shouting that alerted the armed security personnnel, who quickly shot into the air, forcing the thugs to take to their heels,” the NSCDC operative said on the condition of anonymity.

There was heavy presence of security personnel on major roads in the state.

In Owerri, the state capital, and its environs, armed security personnel mounted checkpoints at strategic locations as early as 6:00a.m. to enforce restriction on movements.

Heavily armed soldiers were seen at different entry points into the city, stopping and searching vehicles, as well as interrogating the drivers and passengers before allowing them to go.