Heavy security presence as LG poll commences

chika ebuzor

October 8, 2016 2:45 PM

Oyeyemi told newsmen that a total of 5, 000 policemen were deployed for the election.

INEC Official

There was a heavy presence of security personnel across major streets in Ogun as election into the 20 local government councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) got underway on Saturday.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the security situation in Abeokuta South, Ijebu-Ode, Ado- Odo/Otta and Sagamu council areas, report that security officials were sighted at strategic locations in the bid to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

NAN checks in other council areas also revealed a heavy security presence.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ogun Command, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, told NAN that a total of 5, 000 policemen were deployed for the election.

His counterpart in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kareem Olanrewaju, also told NAN that 5,500 uniformed men and 1,000 intelligence officers in mufti were deployed.

NAN further reports that officials of the state-owned traffic management agency and FRSC mounted road blocks on major highways to enforce the restriction order on movement.

Three security officials, made up of two policemen and one NSCDC official, were stationed at each polling unit to maintain law and order.

NAN also reports that the electoral process so far had generally been peaceful across the various polling units as accreditation and voting, which commenced at 8.a.m., were being carried out simultaneously.(NAN)

chika ebuzor