From: Tony John, 

Port Harcourt

Amid the violence that characterized yesterday’s rerun national and state legislative elections in Rivers State, the hand of a male staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was reportedly chopped off at Ward 5 in Igbo-Etche by armed thugs. He was subsequently rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

Apart from the victim, scores of other election officials were also kidnapped in spite of the heavy presence of security operatives deployed for the polls. Though no death was recorded at the time of filing the report, over 70 persons, including 63 mercenaries and three agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were arrested by security agencies for various offences. The suspected electoral thugs were intercepted in three 18-seater buses and two taxi cabs by a combined team of military and policemen. Machetes and charms were recovered from the hoodlums. It was gathered that the suspects were hired and brought to Etche for the election from other local governments.

There was general voters’ apathy even as some persons were arrested by security operatives at Ward 14 in Igbodo town for hijacking and thump-printing of election materials.

The suspects were detained at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Okehi,  Etche.

Sunday Sun gathered that many female police personnel deployed for the exercise were equally abducted by the youths but were later rescued by combined security agents.

At Ulakwo town, there were heavy shootings around the residence of chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ruling PDP in the state. In the ensuing violence, somebody was given a machete cut on his head.

At Ward 14 in Igbodo Town, four youths were also arrested and detained by the state police command for alleged electoral offences. There was jubilation at the Divisional Police Headquarters, when some female police personnel allegedly abducted by armed thugs were rescued and brought back by the security operatives.

Acting Commissioner of Police in the state, DCP Ahmed Magaji, while briefing journalists when the suspects were paraded, said the police had commenced investigation into the event. 

However, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, expressed satisfaction with yesterday’s conclusion of legislative rerun elections in Etche LGA, despite incidents recorded in some of the centres, adding that election results in areas where ballot boxes and papers were snatched by hoodlums would be cancelled. He commended security agencies that participated in the elections for their conducts and efforts made in arresting election thugs.