Joe Effiong, Uyo,
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command yesterday paraded 10 persons alleged to be involved in the killing of one person and burning of 11 buses close to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office in Obot Akara Local Government Area of the state.
The hoodlums were said to have carried out the mayhem hours before INEC announced the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections.
Permanent voter’s cards (PVCs) totalling 179 and 27 temporary voter’s cards were also seized in two different operations, while 41 persons claiming to be election observers, with no evidence to prove their claims, were also arrested.
Police public relations officer (PPRO) of the command, Odiko Ogbeche, who paraded the suspects, displayed about 179 PVCs and 27 temporary voters’ cards said to have been seized in two different operations, as well as 41 persons claiming to be election observers.
He said though hoodlums set ablaze the INEC office in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of the state, the police were able to put out the fire and got all the INEC materials intact.
He listed weapons retrieved from the 10 suspects to include two locally made shotguns, 25 live cartridges, weed suspected to be Indian hemp, two machetes, charms, human hair, dead bird, knife, scissors, hot drink, two axes and phones.
“On February 15, 2019, the command arrested a total of 41 persons at Angellyne Guest Hotel, Osongama, Uyo, who came from Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo States. The said persons claimed to be in the state as observers for the 2019 general election but could not give any proper identity of themselves and had no INEC identification either.
“On February 17, 2019, the command arrested Anietie Peter in Mkpat Enin in possession of 34 voter’s cards, while on February 3, 2019, personnel of the Nigerian Navy intercepted Stephen Gad in Eastern Obolo in possession of one locally made double-barrel pistol, 145 PVCs and 27 temporary voter’s cards,” he said.
One of the suspects said: “We all submitted our passports to Society for Advancement of Credible Leadership and Observation. This organisation is registered and accredited by INEC. Since we submitted our passports, we were told our names were submitted to INEC and that we would likely monitor the election in Uyo.”