Rivers of Blood: Election Rerun Turns Deadly

10 killed, 32 arrested
2 corps members abducted, rescued
INEC suspends election in 6 LGAs

(PORT HARCOURT)

NO fewer than 10 persons, including one Immigration officer, were killed in yesterday’s Rivers State.
Also, two National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members working as adhoc staff were abducted at Abual Odua.

They were being escorted to the electoral ward, where they were to take part in the exercise by armed policemen before some gunmen who pretended to be electoral officers abducted them. But they were later rescued at 5 pm, by a team of mobile policemen, who combed the area after the incident occured.

But when contacted, a source at the NYSC, who pleaded anonymity said they were yet to receive such report.

Meanwhile, heavy shooting marred voting in Abalama Town, in Asari-­Toru Local Area. It was during the sporadic shootings that a bullet hit the Immigration officer.

Sunday Sun gathered that some thugs had stormed the RAC centre and shot sporadically, after a disagreement between supporters of two major political parties.

Also, four persons were feared dead in Ogoni, in Rivers South-­East, following late arrival of voting materials, which created tension in the senatorial district.

Also, a soldier allegedly killed a young man who came out to cast his vote at Rumuokwuta area of Port Harcourt. His body was later taken to an undisclosed hospital.

In Nonwa, Tai Local Government Area, a voter, simply identified as Tombari, was shot dead by some hoodlums who stormed the area. The victim was said to be on queue, waiting to cast his vote before he was shot dead. Another person was also feared killed in Eleme, while two persons were reportedly killed in Abual/Odua and Ahoada West Local Government Areas, respectively.

Meanwhile, security men arrested over 32 persons for various offences. Of the number, 18 were arrested for being in possession of military uniforms and electoral materials.

In the same vein, eight persons were arrested in Bori by security men for being in possession of military uniforms eight persons were also arrested at GRA junction, Port Harcourt about 1:50 pm for carrying electoral materials in a vehicle.

The persons arrested at the GRA junction claimed to be INEC Adhoc staff, but on interrogation, they were discovered to be agents of one of the political parties. Two persons were also arrested in Choba area for being in possession of fake result sheets. Security men also arrested 10 persons at Eleme for trying to disrupt electoral process.

Soldiers also arrested the secretary to the Rivers state Government, Kenneth Kobani and Cyriil Dum Wite, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects. It was not clear where they were arrested.

Confirming the arrest of Kobani and Wite, Jerry Needam, media aide to the chairman of People Democratic Party, Chief Felix Obua, said over 2 000 PDP members accross the state were arrested by soldiers.

But when contacted, Assitant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, Captain Eli Lazarus said he had not received any official report on the arrest of Kobani and Wite.
Checks revealed that the electoral process was disrupted at Opobo/Nkoro at about 11:49 am by some angry youths, who alleged that voting materials, expecially result sheets, were fake. Similarly, at Bonny Local Government Area, it was gathered that people staged a protest because of what they termed “fake electoral materials.”

Some hoodlums, who mounted roadblock attacked journalists covering the election in Tai.

Meanwhile, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Rivers State, Aniede Ikoiwak, has debunked reports of result sheets, even as election was suspended in six local government areas due to disturbances.

The local governments are Gokana, Bonny, Andoni, Khana, Tai and Eleme.

(Chris Anucha, Molly Kilete and Tony John, SUN NEWS ONLINE)