Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers on Saturday targeted some ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) agents at All Saints Anglican Church, Egbu, in the Owerri North Local Government Area, stealing N1.5 million earmarked for vote-buying during the governorship election.
It was learnt that the gunmen stormed the church premises shooting indiscriminately.
The gunshots caused fear and panic among policemen and journalists present.
An eyewitness, Mr. Ekeocha who recounted the shocking event, described how the gunmen, initially appearing as regular voters, suddenly revealed their weapons.
Chaos ensued as everyone fled, leaving the robbers with their ill-gotten gains.
Ekeocha said, “Everything happened in less than two minutes as everyone had run away.
“They simply walked away into their vehicles, and sped off.”
This incident not only disrupted the electoral process but also underscored the vulnerability of polling stations across the state.
With law enforcement officers fleeing the scene, questions arose about the overall security preparedness for the elections.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Imo State Governorship Election was marred by vote-buying and intimidation as several residents stayed at home.
In some of the polling units visited by SaharaReporters in the state, APC agents paid between N2,000 and N4,000 to voters who voted for incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma.
