During the gubernatorial election on Saturday, hoodlums invaded certain polling booths in Bayelsa State’s Sagbama local government area and fled with electoral materials.
According to reports, the hoodlums arrived armed with sophisticated weaponry and fired back at voters who sought to stop them.
Thugs purportedly guided by a specific politician came at Agorogbene in units 6, 7, and 8 of Ward 11 of the Local Government Area at 9 a.m. and frightened away voters while also destroying electoral equipment.
Armed attackers also invaded the RAC facility, stealing election materials from five of the seven units.
The armed thugs were allegedly led by the ward 11 head of one of the parties.
News About Nigeria also confirms that gunmen attempted to disrupt polls at Ogiadiama Ward 9 in Unit 14 of the Southern Ijaw Local Government area, but the swift involvement of security personnel halted their plans.
Sporadic gunfire was also recorded at 3.30 a.m. on Saturday in the Imbikiri district of Brass Ward 2.
Thugs engaged in a gunfight with security personnel in Famgbe, Yenagoa local government, with several casualties reported.
This electoral violence is coming despite the Bayelsa State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Yenegoa, the state capital, beefing up its security personnel yesterday.
On Friday, armoured vehicles and security men, both armed and unarmed, were strategically positioned at the INEC office’s entrance.
Many others were claimed to be waiting to report for service at various polling units of the state.
The Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, and Fire Service were among the security services represented at the Yenegoa office.
