Lagos: Four feared dead as violence mars APC National Assembly primaries

There was pandemonium in some parts of Lagos State on Thursday as hoodlums suspected to be political thugs, attacked and disrupted National Assembly primaries of the ruling All progressive Congress (APC) which were conducted in different wards across the State.

In most of the places were crises broke out, Daily Trust correspondent gathered that such were recorded in commando-like styles, with sporadic shootings aimed at chasing prospective voters away from already formed queues and or away from the entire premises.

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In places like Lagos Island, Mainland, Ikosi in Kosofe Local Government, as well as Epe, four persons (one per each place) were reportedly killed through indiscriminate shootings into the sky to scare people.

At Adebayo Mokuolu Street, Anthony Village, a former chairmanship aspirant in Kosofe Local Government area, Ibrahim Mustapha, narrowly escaped death when suspected political assailants descended on him and his supporters. Although he was said to have been quickly rescued, he has been inflicted with greater injury.

Aside the three senatorial tickets on offer, Lagos State still have 22 Federal House of Representatives seats on offer. As at the time of filling this report, police officers and officers of other security agencies are manning surveillance at the State Party secretariat, Acme, Ikeja.

The spokesperson of the Lagos State Police command, Chief Superintendent of Police, Chike Oti confirmed that there were skirmishes in different section of the state owing to the primary election, but he was quick to state that there was no death so far recorded. He also said the crisis at Oyingbo, Mainland, Lagos was between warring touts over the control of motor parks.

“So far, we have not recorded any case of death but we knew of areas where there were crises and our men responded swiftly. So far, we have arrested five persons in connection to the recorded violence,” Oti said.