INEC official, four others killed in Rivers, Taraba

An attempt to snatch and swap results sheets of the Presidential and National Assembly elections has claimed the life of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) personnel in Rivers State.

The Guardian learnt that men in Army uniform stormed the collation centre at Buguma and snatched the result sheets.

In their bid to escape from the venue, they shut sporadically and a stray bullet killed Ms. Ibisaki Amachree, an INEC personnel who brought in the results.

The deceased is said to be the daughter of a retired DSS official.

It was also learnt that effort to doctor the results in some local government areas was to be blamed for the delay in the announcement of results.

But, the United States has called for an end to election violence and killings in Rivers State.

US Consul-General to Nigeria, John Bray, called for an end to violence, which has claimed several lives after his meeting with Governor Nyesom Wike at Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday.

However, no fewer than four persons were reportedly killed by unknown gunmen in Kambari Amar village of Karim-Lamido Local Government Council of Taraba State yesterday shortly after the polls.

The situation, which is presently causing unrest in the state, has created bad blood between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which have been trading words over the incident.

Confirming the number of casualties in the attack, APC’s spokesman, Aaron Artimas, said: “We are aware that the attack was carried out by the PDP knowing that they have lost that part of the council to us.”

But in swift reaction, PDP spokesman, Inuwa Bakari, said the party has no hand in the attack “because the election was peaceful in the area and the entire state.”

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), David Misal, said the attack was carried out by unknown gunmen in Kambari Amar village.”

Besides, the Nigeria Army in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday confirmed the arrest of 15 gunmen suspected to be political thugs, who planned to disrupt last Saturday’s polls in Southern Ijaw Local Government area.

Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Major Jonah Danjuma, of the 16th brigade Nigeria Army gave the hint at a media briefing in Yenagoa.

Danjuma said the arrest, which resulted from an intelligence report led to the discovery of a general-purpose machine gun, two 200 horse powered speed boats and large cache of ammunitions.

The Nigeria Army also dislodged gunmen, who attacked their patrol team in Swali Market, Yenagoa.

Also, the Kano State Police Command confirmed the arrest of eight persons with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) yesterday during the elections.

Kano PPRO, DSP Haruna Abdullahi, confirmed the arrest to The Guardian on telephone in the early Sunday morning.