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Tag: Bayelsa State

  • Dickson, APC leaders’ trade words on electoral violence, killings 

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, Monday accused leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of masterminding the killings and other forms of violence that occurred in the state during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Briefing journalists in Government House, Yenagoa, Dickson lamented that at least three persons, one in Nembe-Bassambiri and two in Southern Ijaw, were killed with many people across the state sustaining injuries.

    The visibly angry governor alleged that security agencies especially troops of the Nigerian Army, colluded with the APC leaders to kill the victims, who were members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also:Lokpobiri to Dickson: stop linking us to electoral violence

    He said thugs loyal to APC unleashed mayhem on polling units across the state under the watch of soldiers adding that troops were responsible for the act of terrorism against innocent voters by thugs.

    The governor particularly accused a former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, a surveillance contractor, a former National Deputy Publicity Secretary, APC, Yekini Nabena and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, of leading assaults against voters in the state.

    He alleged that Sylva and the surveillance contractor in connivance with soldiers unleashed pre-election violence on Nembe-Bassambiri by shooting into the community throughout Friday night.

    He said the shooting continued in the morning while thugs loyal to them abducted INEC officials and took them to a hotel where they thumb-printed all the ballot papers meant for the seven wards in Nembe-Bassambiri.

    He said INEC in the state had done nothing about it despite text messages sent to the Resident Electoral Commissioner by one of the INEC officials abducted by the thugs.

    The governor alleged that the APC was making efforts to transmit “the unlawful results” to the INEC and appealed to the commission to reject the overtures since according to him no elections held in Nembe-Bassambiri.

    He asked the people of Nembe-Bassambiri to rise against the development and promised to lead a protest against attempts to subvert and undermine the will of the people.

    The governor further alleged that Brambaifa came with about 50 soldiers to disrupt elections in Agbere, adding that they deliberately scattered all the votes when they saw they were losing.

    Dickson claimed that Nabena was arrested with arms at Odi by soldiers but was later released after security agencies received orders from above.

    He said: “I am telling the people of Bassambiri not to accept this and they have my support. Bassambiri has to be freed. I am calling on the leaders of Bassambiri not to allow this nonsense to persist in that proud land. For us we will not accept this.

    “I have had cause to issue several statements on this. I will lead demonstrations and protests aimed at vindicating the democratic rights of the people of Bassambiri. I shall do so. I call on the REC to drop his lilly-liver and wear the garb of an electoral umpire in the state.

    “Because if you allow Sylva to take several electoral materials, lock the place down by force of illegal arms with soldiers and others conniving with them, then what you are telling politicians is that votes are not important”.

    He said there were efforts by thugs loyal to the APC to storm the Sagbama collation centre and manipulate the results in his local government areas.

    On the killings, he promised to set up a judicial commission of enquiries to look into the roles played by leaders and security agencies in the elections.

    But he added: “A preliminary report that I have indicated that they were killed by soldiers. They were not killed by thugs. The chieftain of our party who was in house waiting for the results to be collated and announced but an APC leader who had access to solders went and pointed at them and they just shot them.

    “I believe that the full circumstances will be unraveled. But I feel very sad. Nobody should die in an election. If you defeat my candidate, I will even congratulate you. We are not enemies to kill ourselves. It’s so sad.”

    The governor, however, praised the electoral process in Brass and Ekeremor, saying for the first time in the history of the state, the people were allowed to cast their votes in peaceful atmosphere.

    In their reactions Brambaifa and Nabena denied the allegations against them by the governor saying they were never in breach of the electoral process.

    Nabena said he was never arrested with arms and asked the governor and other persons making the allegations to present the weapons found on him by security agents.

  • Shot Bayelsa Govt House Photographer not dead

    The Photographer attached to Bayelsa State Government House, Reginald Dei, is not dead but in critical condition contrary to earlier reports.

    Dei was reported dead on Saturday after he was shot at close range in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    Sources said Dei, who was a popular photographer, was shot by troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe.

    But JTF immediately refuted the allegations saying its troops were not involved in any skirmishes in the local government area during the election.

    Investigations, however, revealed that Dei was gasping for breath and battling for survival at an undisclosed hospital in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Read Also: Elections: Gunmen attack police checkpoint in Bayelsa

    It was learnt that the victim was in life support as doctors were battling to stabilize him.

    Some government officials led by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, were said to have visited him at the hospital.

    A member of the team, who spoke in confidence, said Dei was placed on oxygen adding that there was an urgent need to fly him abroad.

    He said the bullet hit him badly at close range from behind affecting an undisclosed major organ in his body.

    “He needs to be flown abroad and it must be done urgently. We sympathize with the family of Dei and we will do everything possible to save his life”, he said.

    Journalists in the state including members of Government House media crew were happy that Dei was still alive as they prayed God to save his life.

  • Nigeria elections: Observers hail INEC over credible, transparent polls

    Election observers under the platform of Independent Foreign Observers have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Nigerians for transparency and credibility of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    They gave this commendation at a press conference this afternoon in Abuja. The team leader, Dr. Stuart Young, an academic and diplomat spoke on behalf of other members of the team at its presentation of preliminary report.

    The observers in the text  entitled, “A Preliminary report on the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Nigeria” described the conduct of the elections as as fair and an indication of non-interference by the government or any of its agents.

    The text reads, “In the build-up to the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria, the Independent Foreign Observers mission, a team from the United States of America, United Kingdom, and the European Union (EU), visited Nigeria with a view to observing the elections, in line with best global practices. Consequently, more than 200 local observers were recruited and trained to monitor the polls, with a view to ascertaining if the elections were free, fair and credible.

    Observations:

    From the reports filed in by our observers deployed all around the country, it was recorded that the turnout of voters across the country was impressive, as supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were active in casting their ballots for their respective candidates.

    The conduct of the electoral officials appeared to be consistently fair and an indication of non-interference by the government or any of its agents.  There were, however, some polling units that experienced late arrival of voting materials.

    In both Abuja and Nassarawa state, observers witnessed polls opening late, and voting beginning after the scheduled start.  In Abuja we saw voting begin as late as 9:30am, and in a Mararaba polling station in Nassarawa voting did not begin until 1pm.

    Observers in Asokoro 1, Abuja witnessed a situation where there was confusion over the exact location of a polling station, because of the previous demolition of a Total service station that had been used to identify the location for voters.  INEC officials set up at the nearest Total service station where they performed their duties for citizens who had lined up there.  Upon discovering there was a collection of voters in a different location, where the former service station was located, INEC officials moved their voting materials to this location.  Some citizens were worried that the votes that officials brought to the new station indicated ballot box stuffing, but were eventually mollified when officials explained the confusion over the location.

    There were also reports of unruly behaviour at some polling units that required the immediate deployment of security to restore order. An example was in Kaduna state where voters attempted to provoke security personnel of which a senior military officer quickly resolved the situation. There were additional reports of scattered violence in Lagos, Obu state, River state and Bayelsa state.

    Incidences of votes buying were dealt with by surveillance mounted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other security agencies that consisted of the Army, police, and the civil defence.

    The various security agencies were professional in handling incidences of ballot box snatching and other forms of electoral malpractices. Worthy of mention is the professionalism displayed by the Nigerian Army.

    The security agencies were on top of the situation in areas that were hitherto known for election-related violence and the other regions as a whole.

    Observers watched votes being counted at polling stations, noting that the announcement of the vote from each ballot was announced clearly, and citizens were monitoring the process along with officials and party monitors.

    From reports collated from our field officers, the 2019 general elections to this point seem free, fair and credible as neither party can fault the transparent process that occasioned accreditation and voting.

    In Area 10, Garki, Abuja, observers noted a disabled (blind) person, who was given assistance in entering the polling station, allowed to progress to the front of the line unimpeded by the voters present, and was able to cast his ballot with relative ease.  Observers were impressed that it was common citizens, not officials, who took the initiative to help their fellow citizen exercise his democratic right.

    Suggestions:

    The 2019 general elections in Nigeria, though appearing to be free, fair and credible at this juncture, using our international set parameters and the feedback gathered from the over 200 observers deployed to the various states, there are a few areas that need to be looked into in the conduct of elections in the future.

    The functionality of card readers must be fully tested and properly calibrated before deployment to the polling units, before the elections to reduce the use of manual voting which takes time and might be exploited.

    Improvement is needed in the areas of logistics and training of electoral officials.  For example a digital voting system, perhaps using mobile phones, tablets and/or voting cards embedded with codes that can be swiped to register a voter’s choice, should be explored.

    A stronger effort to start voting on time would make the process more comfortable and healthy for voters, as well as improving voter turnout.

    Continuing voter education beyond the election period should focus on efforts to identify and weed out Fake news in order not to mislead the public.

    Nigerians should be able to vote in their current place of residence, provided they have lived there for a designated minimum amount of time. A mechanism should be put in place to cancel their registration in their home state, when they register in their new home area.

    Conclusion:

    The elections appear to have been free, fair and credible to this point. It is therefore advised that winners and losers should see beyond themselves and their political aspirations, to promote the unity of Nigeria as a country.

    Worthy of commendation are the staffers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for maintaining orderliness and contributing to a sense of calm and security which enabled domestic and foreign observers to efficiently carry out their duties, and voters to exercise their democratic right and responsibility.

    We would like to congratulate the Nigerian government and Nigerian citizens for their enthusiasm, perseverance and fair play in pursuing their democratic ideals through this election.

  • Updated: Bayelsa Govt photographer, PDP chairman shot dead

    A Government House photographer in Bayelsa State, Reginald Dei, has been killed in Southern Ijaw Local Government of the state.

    Sources said Dei, who was a popular photographer, was shot by troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe.

    But JTF immediately refuted the allegations saying its troops were not involved in any skirmishes in the local government area during the election.

    But giving insight into the killing, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Dei was murdered by men in military uniform.

    The party said Dei was not the only person killed in the shooting, but also a ward chairman of the party in the state.

    READ MORE: Ndoma-Egba wins unit for Buhari

    The party in a statement said rampaging armed men in military uniform murdered Dei, and one other person at Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area òf Bayelsa State.

    The State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, said in a statement that Dei was killed alongside the Ward Chairman òf the People’s Democratic Party in the area, Mr. Seidougha Taribi.

    He said the two victims of the electoral violence were killed while they were in their houses and waiting for the votes which had been concluded in their ward to be counted.

    Moses said the assailants moved to the houses of the victims to shoot them to death.

    He said the killing brought the number of those killed by thugs, some of whom were backed by soldiers, to three.

    Moses said thugs identified to be working for the APC with the support of some soldiers besieged the Bassambiri and Oluasiri axis of Nembe Local Government Area, where they engaged operatives in a shootout all night on Friday.

    According to him, the attackers lost a member in the attack while several others were injured and taken to the hospital in Ogbolomabiri and Yenagoa.

    He accused a former Governor and a surveillance contractor as being behind the violence that rocked Opu Nembe and Bassambiri.

    He stated further that the rampaging thugs hijacked the electoral materials for the seven wards of Bassambiri and Oluasiri to a hotel for thumb-printing.

     

  • One killed in Bayelsa as hoodlums engage soldiers in gun duel

    A suspected armed robber was killed in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Friday in a gun battle between his gang and troops of the 16th Brigade of the Nigeria Army.

    A statement by Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 16th Brigade, Jonah Danjuma, said the gunmen numbering seven first opened fire on the troops.

    He said one of the hoodlums attempted to disarm a soldier but was neutralised by the troops.

    He said: “Troops of 16 Brigade Brigade Nigerian Army on routine patrol were attacked today at Swali market area in Yenagoa metropolis by gunmen, on the 22nd February 2019.

    Read Also: ‘Despite setback, Buhari will win Bayelsa’

    “The gunmen numbering about 7 opened fire on own troops. One of the bandits attempted to snatch a riffle of one of the soldiers. In the process he was neutralized while others took to their heels. Efforts are on to track them.

    “There are allegations that these criminals have been robbing people around Swali market for sometimes now.

    “Unfortunately, luck ran out of them when troops closed in on them and recovered their weapons”.

    He named the weapons recovered from them as one locally-made pistol; two locally made 9mm ammunition; one Itel mobile phone and the sum of N8, 350.

    He said: “The Brigade wishes to reassure the good people of Bayelsa and environs of the safety of their lives and property.  Also, criminal elements brandishing arms are advised to turn them in to security agencies or be ready to face the full wrath of the law”.

  • INEC moves sensitive materials to Bayelsa LGAs

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Bayelsa state has distributed all sensitive materials for the presidential and National Assembly elections to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) in the eight local government areas of the state.

    It was gathered that the materials were moved through the Ministry of Transport jetty in Yenagoa.

    The materials were escorted by heavily armed security operatives comprising the police, the military, Department of State Service (DSS) and other sister security agencies.

    Head, Department of INEC Voters Education and Publicity, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, said the commission was ready for the presidential and national assembly polls.

    Ifogah disclosed that all non-sensitive materials had been distributed to the different registration area centres in the state.

    He said: “Movement of non-sensitive materials and sensitive materials to area offices of INEC in the state has been done; we started with non sensitive ones on Wednesday and it continued until Thursday.

    “For the riverine areas it was on hold because of the terrain, so, today which is Friday, a day before elections, the distributions of sensitive materials to the coastal communities has been completed.

    “So, as you can see some of the buses moving the materials to the jetty and security operatives are on ground to ensure that all the materials are were secured.

    Read Also: INEC clears Zamfara APC to present candidates

    “INEC is good to go, the security men are ready and we have about 10, 482 adhoc staff to perform the national duty.”

    Alao, the Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state, Mr. Ide Oduasekpor, urged politicians to steer clear of sponsoring thugs during the elections.

    He said: “Do not go to the polling units with gun but go with your PVCs; police will not disturb anyone unless you go with the intention to cause violence.

    “We want free, fair and credible polls for the citizens.”

  • Elections: Gunmen attack police checkpoint in Bayelsa

    Unidentified gunmen have attacked a police checkpoint in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, injuring a Sergeant and snatching two AK47 rifles ahead of the rescheduled elections.

    It was gathered that the incident caused panic among residents amidst increasing rate of crimes and killings in the capital city.

    The attack was also said to have occurred after soldiers shot and killed a 27-year-old man for robbing their colleague his mobile phone at gunpoint in Biogbolo area of Yenagoa.

    A security source said armed hoodlums attacked the policemen, who were conducting a stop and search operation at the popular Berger Junction.

    The policemen, who were said to be fond of extorting commercial tricycles in the area, were caught unawares by the attackers.

    The assailants reportedly stole two AK47 rifles and injured a police Sergeant, who tried in vain to stop them.

    At Biogbolo community in Yenagoa, some soldiers, who went in search of a gang that robbed their colleague at a gunpoint were said to have shot and killed a 27-year-old man.

    Community sources said the soldiers in uniform out of anger stormed combed Biogbolo at 10am in the morning.

    The incident caused protest in the area as residents barricaded some parts of the Mbiama-Yenagoa expressway causing traffic jam.

    Read also: NCC Tackles Google Over Free Wi-Fi

    A resident of the area, Frank, identified the victim as Bright, popularly called Albino in Biogbolo.

    He claimed that the youths were drinking and sharing jokes when the soldiers invaded the community shooting sporadically, killing Albino and leaving many others injured.

    He said: “We were just sitting at an area drinking, when suddenly we saw soldiers, before we could ask what was happening, there was a rain of bullets, some of us ran, some were injured, while one of the youths was killed. One was taken into custody and later released at their headquarters at Igbogene after investigations

    “What has happened is unjust, we did nothing to be fired at, we are calling on all human rights and pressure group to seek justice for the innocent victim.”

    A senior police officer confirmed the two incidents and said a manhunt had been launched to arrest the hoodlums that stole police rifles.

    He, however, said the military should investigate the claims by the community that soldiers shot and killed a youth in the area.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Butswat Asinim, said he was yet to be briefed on the incidents.

  • Polls: Police deploy 4,000 personnel in Bayelsa

    The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State command, Aminu Saleh Thursday said over 4000 policemen will be providing security for the rescheduled elections on Saturday.

    Saleh, who spoke to the Nation, boasted that the police were fully ready for the elections and warned troublemakers to stay away from the process.

    He said the police in partnership with other security agencies played crucial roles in the distribution of electoral materials.

    On securing the waterways and creeks, Saleh said the command had enough marine equipment, gunboats and marine policemen to ensure hitch-free elections.

    He warned policemen to be professional and adhere strictly to the rules of engagements throughout the process.

    He said: “We are fully ready for the elections with deployment and everything. We have been involved in the escort of necessary materials. We are working closely with other security agencies to do that.

    Read Also: Police reiterate readiness for rescheduled polls

    “We will soon commence deployment to the polling units. Some of them had been deployed within the areas of their operation. We have over 4000 policemen for this exercise. We also have adequate marine equipment and personnel to secure the waterways.

    “We further have adequate gunboats. The policemen should discharge their duties by the rules. We have been trained on electoral law and they know what to do during the electoral process. We are adequately aware and informed.

    “We expect that no thugs should come near to snatch any ballot box. We are working very hard in partnership with other security agencies, parties and their candidates, in fact, everybody in Bayelsa to ensure peace”.

  • Dickson orders monarchs to sign peace pacts with candidates

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has directed traditional rulers and chairmen of Community Development Committees (CDC) to hold peace meetings with political stakeholders and party candidates to ensure violence-free elections in the state.

    Dickson said the community leaders should sign peace pacts with the candidates and their parties to confine their activities within the outcome of the meetings.

    The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, further called on the paramount rulers to be vigilant to ensure that strange faces were not harbored in their communities during the period of the election.

    Dickson stressed that the state would not allow the influx of strange faces brought in as political thugs to foment crisis during the election.

    He said: “Based on the outcome of the State Security Council meeting, all paramount rulers, CDC chairmen are directed to hold peace meetings with candidates and party leaders in their various communities, particularly those that normally have political violence. We don’t want violence in any community because of the elections in the state.

    “They should call the politicians in their areas, and candidates and then get binding undertakings from them.

    “I am directing them to sensitize communities to reject any strange or unknown face brought in as thugs by any candidate or politician to disturb the peace of the communities.

    Read Also: Jonathan’s kinsmen loyal to Dickson, PDP

    “The traditional rulers and CDC chairmen are directed to mobilize their communities to ensure that only those who are registered voters from their communities are harbored in their communities for purposes of this election; no unknown faces by any political party will be tolerated. We stand for peace, we must have a culture of voting peacefully.”

    Dickson also said that it was important for the people to recognize that election as a civilian operation requires the police and civil forces to play their assigned responsibility while the military operates at the outer corridor.

    He explained the military, who could be assigned the responsibility of escorting sensitive electoral materials because of the terrain should neither handle electoral materials nor intimidate voters.

    “Our people should know that by the laws of this country, the duty of the military is to be at the outer corridor.

    “Election is a civil operation, with the police and other civil forces playing their constitutional roles, while the military because of our terrain are given support services to escort materials.

    “They are not to handle any material, they are not to intimidate anybody”.

     

  • Breaking: Gunmen attack police checkpoint in Bayelsa

    Snatch two Ak47 rifles

     

    Gunmen have attacked a police checkpoint in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, injuring a Sergeant and snatching two AK47 rifles ahead of the rescheduled elections.

    It was gathered that the incident caused panic among residents amidst increasing rate of crimes and killings in the capital city.

    The attack was also said to have occurred after soldiers shot and killed a 27-year-old man for robbing their colleague of his mobile phone at gun point in Biogbolo area of Yenagoa.

    A security source said armed hoodlums attacked the policemen, who were conducting a stop- and- search operation at the popular Berger Junction.

    The policemen, who were said to be fond of extorting commercial tricycles in the area, were caught unawares by the attackers.

    The assailants reportedly stole two AK47 rifles and injured a police Sergeant, who tried in vain to stop them.

    At Biogbolo community in Yenagoa, some soldiers, who went in search of a gang that robbed their colleague at a gunpoint were said to have shot and killed a 27-year-old man.

    Read Also: ‘Despite setback, Buhari will win Bayelsa’

    Community sources said the soldiers in uniform out of anger stormed combed Biogbolo at 10am.

    The incident caused protest in the area as residents barricaded some parts of the Mbiama-Yenagoa expressway causing traffic jam.

    A resident of the area, Frank, identified the victim as Bright, popularly called Albino in Biogbolo.

    He claimed that the youths were drinking and sharing jokes when the soldiers invaded the community shooting sporadically, killing Albino and leaving many others injured.

    He said: “We were just sitting at an area drinking, when suddenly we saw soldiers, before we could ask what was happening, there was a rain of bullets, some of us ran, some were injured while one of the youths was killed.

    “One was taken into custody and later released at their headquarters at Igbogene after investigations

    “What has happened is unjust, we did nothing to be fired at. We are calling on all human rights and pressure group to seek justice for the innocent victim”.

    A senior police officer confirmed the two incidents and said a manhunt had been launched to arrest the hoodlums that stole police rifles.

    He, however, said the military should investigate the claims by the community that soldiers shot and killed a youth in the area.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Butswat Asinim, said he was yet to be briefed on the incidents.