Sunday, July 19, 2026

Police heavily man Lagos roads during polls to prevent electoral violence

Armed security agents, mostly police officers, mounted roadblocks along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Agege Motor roads, Ipaja road, Pen Cinema and other areas.

• March 18, 2023

The police command in Lagos State, on Saturday, mounted very heavy security posts in the metropolis as residents voted in the governorship and state assembly elections.

The heavy security presence was coming on the backdrop of apprehensions of likely breakdown of law and order during the polls in Lagos state.

Political actors had traded accusations on plans to frustrate the electorate and violently disrupt the polls.

The police command in the state had deployed 27,000 men and officers for the governorship and house of assembly elections.

Checks in various parts of the state revealed heavy security presence mounted on various expressways within the state metropolis.

The security agents, including the police and military, were seen at various points and road intersections and mounted roadblocks with tyres, logs and other items.

Armed security agents, mostly police officers, mounted roadblocks along the  Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Agege Motor roads, Ipaja road, Pen Cinema and other areas.

More vehicular movements were observed during the governorship election than in the February 25  presidential election.

The police were seen stopping vehicles without election tags from moving while also turning them back.

The divisional police officer in Gowon Estate, Suleiman Kabir, was also seen on the road stopping and turning vehicles back.

Ibrahim Abioye, one of those stopped by the police, told journalists that he was driving to his polling unit to cast his vote when he was stopped by the police.

He said he could not walk to his polling unit, which was why he drove.

Another person, Deborah Olawale, who was asked to go back by the police, said she was driving to vote in her polling unit.

People were seen walking to their different polling units to cast their votes, while some were seen drinking at local joints. 

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Tinubu and Gov Uba Sani

States

Tinubu is pillar of my infrastructural development: Gov Sani

The governor said that the N1 trillion Light Rail Project will commence in the next two months.

Nigerian Troops

States

Troops foil abduction of Borno female students 

He said that the terrorists reportedly gained access to the facility with the assistance of suspected collaborators

CDHR

Rights

Civil society organisations key to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy: CDHR 

He said civil society organisations serve as a bridge between the government and the people.

Chibuzor Okereke

NationWide

2027: Nigeria won’t drift into one-party state, says LP presidential candidate 

Mr Okereke described the one-party state narrative as a mere political construct.

States

Flooding: Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu place emergency response agencies on alert

He urged residents living in flood-prone areas to heed early warning messages.

Flood

NationWide

Flood Alert: NEMA urges residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate as rains intensify

Mrs Umar advised motorists and pedestrians against driving or walking through floodwaters.