Matilda Omonaiye/
Ten protesters were arrested by the police during the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives Primary in Epe area of Lagos today, after the killing of an aspirant’s supporter, which led to the burning of houses and vehicles.
The slain supporter was identified as a 30-year-old Idris Alooma.
NewsmakersNG learnt that he was shot by hoodlums who attacked a polling unit at Ward4 after voting had taken place and party members were awaiting the declaration of the result.
Four persons cleared to contest for the APC ticket to the House of Representatives were named as Wale Raji, the incumbent, Lanre Odubote, a former House of Reps member, Remi Adebowale and Segun Olulade, a member of the House of Assembly.
Voting had ended at Ward 4, when the gunmen arrived at about 4.15 pm and shot Alooma, a witness Mr Akeem Lawal said.
He added that the hoodlums stormed the polling unit after learning that their candidate had lost.
Lawal complained that the security in Epe was loose because there were no police officers at the polling unit when the attack occurred.
NAN also reported that some aggrieved youths set houses and vehicles ablaze across Epe community, after the killing of Alooma.
Lagos State police spokesman, CSP Chike Oti told NewsmakersNG that 10 suspects were arrested. He said that the quick intervention of the police prevented the breakdown of law and order.
The Divisional Police Officer in Epe, CSP Adeyeri Sunday also said that his team would do everything humanly possible to arrest other suspects and bring them to book.
The direct primaries to elect the candidates for both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held at the 19 wards in the Epe Federal Constituency.
Violence was also reported at Lagos Island, Ebute-Meta and Oshodi areas of Lagos during the primaries today.
Senator Gbenga Bariyu Ashafa, cleared to run unopposed for the Lagos East Senate seat by the APC National Working Committee, had an opponent in Bayo Osinowo, a four-time member of the state of House of Assembly.
Voting started at about 3:45 p.m. in many of the wards in Ibonwon, Ikosi-Ejirin, Epe Recreation centre and Ogunmodede among others.
Results are being awaited.
0