Palpable political tension heightened in Imo State on Saturday afternoon after political thugs killed a party agent.
The killing which took place in Umudi in Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state put the area in an apprehensive mood.
The killing, our correspondents learnt, made voters who had yet to cast their votes to flee from the polling unit.
Our correspondents gathered that the murdered party agent whose identity had yet to be ascertained had engaged in a fierce argument with some other party agents in one of the polling units.
The party agent who had left the polling unit afterwards was said to have been ambushed by thugs who shot him several times until he died.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, who confirmed the killing to our correspondent, said the police had swiftly taken over the investigation process.
The police spokesperson said, “I can confirm that a party agent was shot dead at Nkwerre. We have swiftly responded and taken over the investigation process.”
“Outside some pockets of violence, the security architecture of the state has been wonderful. The security agencies are on top of the situation. We have made a couple of arrests including the arrest of fake policemen at Umuobom in the Ideato South LGA and some military men.”
Five hoodlums were nabbed for impersonating policemen in Ideato South local government area in the state.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Dazuki Galadanchi, who confirmed the incident, explained that the five persons suspected to be fake policemen were in custody.
The CP said, “Five fake policemen in Ideato South local government area, have been arrested, while two soldiers were also arrested. They were arrested escorting a politician and they are not supposed to be on election duty.”
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