From Judex Okoro, Calabar
It was tragedy in Mbube community, Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River as a middle-aged man was reportedly shot dead while trying to disrupt voting process in the area.
The deceased, simply identified as Joe, was said to be a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC); he hailed from the same community where the party’s deputy governorship candidate comes from.
The deceased, said to be an Okada rider, was said to have arrived at his polling unit in the early hours of the Election Day, and started causing trouble, creating unnecessary tension even when he was urged to calm down.
An election observer who didn’t want his name in print, said when Joe was confronted, he pulled out a gun in front of the soldiers; the soldiers shot him immediately for daring them.
Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Garba Aliyu, said: “I am aware that somebody was shot by the soldiers on ground. But I have not got the details yet.
Similarly, thugs numbering more than 30 have burnt seven vehicles belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
An eye witness disclosed that the incident took place at Okut-Ikang/Akpap axis of Odukpani Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, “at 11:45pm on Friday, March 17, seven PDP vehicles including four buses and three SUVs were burnt while conveying some people to their respective communities.
“One woman was also shot in the belly at Ikot Effiong Otop while some policemen were disarmed, their weapons taken away.”
The SUVs, this reporter gathered, belonged to the Director Security of PDP Campaign Organisation in the state, Mr. Bobby Ekpenyong, as well as the party’s state Vice Chairman (South).
The police PRO in Cross River, DSP Irene Ugbo, said the command was yet to receive any official report on the incident.