There was pandemonium in Oba Akoko, in Akoko Southwest Local Government Area of Ondo state, when hoodlums suspected to be political thugs invaded the collation centre in the town, snatching ballot boxes during the House of Assembly election in the area.
According to a source, the hoodlums invaded the collation centre and started shooting sporadically into the air to scare away electoral officers and the security agents at the collation centre.
He explained that the security agents, electoral officers and other party officials were caught unaware and had to run for their lives but said the security men, however, trailed the hoodlums
He stated that the security agents at the collation centre however engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel while the thugs took to their heels, saying “three of the hoodlums were shot in during the gun duel.”
He said two of the thugs died immediately while one was in critical condition and rushed to a nearby hospital but said the security agents at the collation centre were able to restore normalcy in the town.
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The source, however, said some of the hoodlums regrouped and invaded the police station in the town, destroying three vehicles at the station to retaliate the death of their members.
He said that the thugs also invaded a beer depot belonging to a member of the community, destroyed the good and set the depot on fire.
Simiarly, some people have been arrested in Arigidi Akoko, in Akoko North West local government area of the town, while trying to snatch ballot boxes.
It was gathered that some hoodlums invaded Araromi area of snatched at Araromi area of Arigidi Akoko, which led to the disruption of the election in one of the polling units.
An eye witness said the hoodlums also destroyed vehicle of a community leader in the town, who prevent them from escaping with the ballot boxes.
Confirming the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, said no fewer than 20 people have been arrested by the state police command across the state over electoral offences.
He denied that two people were killed in the state but said all the offenders arrested for electoral offences would face the wrath of law after an investigation.
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