There was mild tension in the Isu local government area of Imo, as political thugs on Saturday disrupted and snatched the ballot box at Umuarusi Amandugba hall amidst heavy presence of security agencies.

It was gathered the incident occurred in the wee hours of the day.

The thugs numbering about five invaded the area as voters were rendered helpless.

However, voters have expressed fears over the security armored vehicle patrolling the area before the snatching of the box.

“We are afraid. You saw how they snatched the ballot box with security people and you it was planned. We are afraid and we are not safe. How can an election be conducted with an armoured vehicle? This is wrong,” one of the voters, who introduced himself simply as Chibuike, said.

Elsewhere, voting has commenced at a polling unit in Alasawa Kwaciri ward 030, Kurna Gabas of Fagge LGA but thugs wielding dangerous weapons in their hundreds have dispersed voters.

Men and women were seen running for their lives to escape danger as thugs threw stones at them.

However, armed policemen intervened and stopped the violence and also chased the thugs away, thereby providing protection for the activity to continue.

The police present protected the polling materials and INEC workers and called back the people to continue casting their votes. (Based on Vanguard reports)

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