Tony John, Port Harcourt

Two persons were reportedly killed during yesterday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections, while several ballot boxes and voting materials were snatched by political thugs in Rivers State.

  The deaths were recorded at two different locations in Akinima, Ahoada West Local Government Area (LGA) and Omerelu, in Ikwerre LGA of the state.

  Sunday Sun gathered that unidentified armed men stormed the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akinima, shot at the door to force themselves inside the office and killed the victim, whose identity could not easily be ascertained.

  Sources disclosed that the perpetrators of the crime also carted away some materials for the elections, alleging that a lawmaker of the opposition party in the state knew those behind the shooting.

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  Similarly, in Omerelu, Ikwerre LGA, it was gathered that a cult war ensued when there was an attempt by rival cultists to snatch a ballot box, leading to the killing of one of the cult members.

  Also, a police officer on election duty was shot on Friday night in Andoni LGA. The spokesman of the State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, has confirmed the incident.

  Ballot boxes were reportedly hijacked in Buguma, in Asari Toru wards 15, 16 and 17, and in Akuku Toru, Abua/Odual, Okrika, Gokana, Khana, Port Harcourt City, and Akpajo in Eleme LGAs of the state.

  In Buguma, Asari LGA, it was gathered that some women staged a peaceful protest in the community to condemn the arrest of their traditional ruler by security men at the polling centre.