The Lagos State Police Command has cleared the air on the alleged claims that suspected thugs invaded a Catholic church in the Ijesha Surulere area of the state, where PVC registration was going on to disrupt the process and carted the machines.
According to the statement released on Friday 29th July 2022, by the Lagos state, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that the INEC officials for the ongoing PVC registration in the area, were assigned to Imam Thani Street by House No 9A for today’s exercise. They were, however, found within the church premises. Residents raised concerns and informed the police. The DPO Ijeshatedo swung into action and brought the INEC officials to the station.
Adding further, SP Benjamin Hundeyin in his statement on Friday, said that “preliminary findings show that a resident of the area who volunteered to transport the officials from their office to the PVC registration centre was responsible for the mixup, deliberate or not, further investigation will reveal,” he said.
“Meanwhile, the officials were immediately released to proceed to the correct centre to continue their assignment,” he added.
Earlier reports had it that thugs on Friday disrupted the ongoing PVC registration exercise at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Ijesha, Surulere and carted away the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Continuous Voter Registration machines.
The incident happened less than 72 hours before the CVR’s closure by INEC.
Following the incident, the Parish Priest locked up the church while people scampered for safety.
An eyewitness who identified herself as Dr. Ambassador Princess Okojie Igbemudia said the thugs stormed the church and disrupted the exercise because those registering will vote for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
It was learnt that the police had been deployed to the area to ensure peace and order.