Some motorists who disobeyed the restriction movement order during the Osun State House of Assembly election were arrested by military personnel on Saturday in Osogbo, the state capital.

They were arrested in front of the state House of Assembly, adjacent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters.

The motorists were asked to park their cars and told they would not be allowed to move until after the election.

One of the arrested motorists, Samson Atanda, said he was going to his polling unit to vote before he was arrested.

Mr Atanda said he was arrested before 7:00 a.m. by the military.

“This is rather unfortunate. I was on my way to vote before I was arrested. I am not travelling but trying to get to my polling unit to cast my vote before I was arrested,” he said.

Another motorist, who spoke anonymously, said he was arrested around 5:00 a.m. on his way to his village to vote.

She said staying in the same spot for over three hours was tiring.

“It is rather unfortunate that I was arrested. I was on my way to my village around 5:00 a.m. when I was arrested,” she said.

A senior military officer and leader of the team, who spoke anonymously, said they were only obeying the movement restriction during the election.

He said anyone wanting to cast his vote should have travelled down to the place a day before the election or trek there.

The military officer said that if all vehicles were allowed to move during the election, hoodlums might take advantage to disrupt the process.

“As announced by the Inspector-General of Police, there would be no movement of vehicles and bikes from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., which is what we are enforcing.

“Anyone who wants to vote should do so by casting his votes near his or her house,” he said.

Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed security agencies to arrest any resident who violated movement restrictions during the election in the state.

(NAN)