Security operatives in Imo State on Saturday prevented some suspected political thugs from abducting officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and stealing election materials at a registration area centre in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state.
According to an eyewitness, the thugs arrived at the centre in a bus and tried to force the INEC officials and the election materials into their vehicle. However, their plan was thwarted by the security agents who were deployed in the area and who fired gunshots into the air to scare them away.
The eyewitness, who spoke to journalists on the condition of anonymity, said that the voters in the centre raised the alarm when they noticed the presence of the thugs and their intention to disrupt the electoral process. He said that the thugs quickly retreated into their bus and fled the scene when they heard the sound of the gunshots.
A Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) operative, who was also at the scene but unarmed, confirmed the incident to journalists. He said that the thugs wanted to hijack the INEC officials and election materials but were unlucky as some people started shouting and alerted the armed security personnel.
Meanwhile, there was a heavy presence of security personnel on major roads in the state, especially in Owerri, the state capital, and its environs. Armed soldiers were seen at different entry points into the city, stopping and searching vehicles, and interrogating drivers and passengers. They were enforcing the movement restriction order imposed by the state government to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.