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Tag: Delta State

  • Call your men to order, Ijaw youths urge Buratai

    Ijaw youths of Egbema in Warri North council of Delta State, have called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to “call” his men to “order” so that they will not be used to cause disruption in Saturday’s polls.

    Unconfirmed reports said the All Progressives Congress (APC) led-Federal Government plans to provide heavy security across the state to ensure free, fair, credible and violence-free elections.

    The youth, under the aegis of Egbema Youth Forum, spoke in a statement, signed by its president, Mr. Ebipade Kari in Warri, yesterday.

    The statement, which noted that the presence of military during electoral exercises was unconstitutional, said events resulting from the presidential and National Assembly elections in the Southsouth showed the desperation of APC to take over Niger Delta states.

    It lamented the deaths in the region during the last polls, adding that it would not condone a recurrence.

    Emphasising the peaceful disposition of its kingdom even in the face of underdevelopment, the group said nothing should disrupt the peace which the kingdom had “sacrificed so much” to achieve and sustain.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to purported plans by the ruling party at the centre to take over Delta State by all means in connivance with the Army. As peace loving citizens of Nigeria, endowed with fundamental and inalienable socio-political rights, we wish to call on the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai to call the Army personnel to order and not to allow the highly revered military force in Africa to be used as petty thugs by the ruling government.

    “We want to state clearly, without any iota of reservation that the involvement of the military in electoral process in  in Nigeria has gone beyond manageable dimension. This is a disservice to democratic principals and tenets as the military is statute barred from dabbling into politics. The shaky and flimsy excuses of providing security are mere gimmicks scripted to actualise the biddings of the ruling party.”

    “From the events recorded in the Southsouth on February 23, 2019, it is crystal clear that the ruling party is bent on controlling the states in the oil-rich region and has resorted to violence, gross deprivation of electoral rights and brutal force because it has no structure in the states therein.

    “We are deeply pained and are still in a state of melancholy over the death of harmless and innocent citizens in the southern part of the country, especially Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states and as such we shall not treat with indifference if another ugly episode is re-enacted…’’

  • Okowa: Polobubo leaders urge calm

    Leaders of the oil-rich Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community in Warri North council of Delta State have appealed to youths to remain calm and avoid plunging their home into crisis.

    The call followed a near-break down of peace and order in the community in reaction to the refusal of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to inaugurate some projects executed by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) in the community.

    Okowa was to inaugurate projects  in Polobubo and neighbouring Itsekiri community, Ogheye. But after performing the ceremony in Ogheye, Okowa aborted the visit and assigned the senator representing Delta South, James Manager, to represent him.

    When news got to the indigenes the governor was no longer coming, everyone left the Tsekelewu Secondary School venue in  anger.

    At the virtually deserted venue of the event, Manager tried in vain to persuade the angry youths to allow the inauguration to go on as scheduled. He left the community, with the people angry at what they described as a slight against them by the governor.

    Speaking to repoters, National President of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) National Council, Mr. Ebilate Mac-Yoroki, appealed to the people to remain calm.

    Mac-Yoroki, who said none of the leaders of the community was happy the governor could not come in person, explained they learnt the governor’s decision was informed by some unforseen circumstances.

  • Group decries fifth columnists in Delta APC

    A group, the Unity Force, yesterday decried the activities of fifth columnists in the Delta State  All Progressives Congress (APC), saying their efforts were inhibiting the progress of the party.

    The group, in a statement by its coordinator, Onye Imaru, observed the continued suspicion between the two major tendencies and what it described as the frustration of the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, in bringing them together.

    The reaction of the group was in the wake of the townhall meeting at PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Delta State on Monday where unity and strategies to win the election were deliberated on. The group raised observations that the governorship candidate of the party, Chief Great Ogboru, had for one reason or the other not been able to bring everybody on board in his campaign.

    He said: “From what can be seen it is evident that issues flowing from the governorship primaries of the party last year are still a yoke on the party and its aspirations to win the governorship election.

    “The absence of the major aspirants especially from Delta North in the campaign of the governorship candidate is a serious issue. It is either they have not been convinced or they still have issues to settle with our candidate and hence their seeming indifference towards the governorship election.

    “Every effort must be made to address the issue and we dare say that it is not too late for the issues to be resolved.

    Imaru added: “Our only concern is that the only person who has shown serious efforts towards settling the groups, that is, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has continued to be the subject of negative propaganda by what we now believe are fifth columnists in the party. This was obviously seen with the unbridled attack on the minister by the unidentified speaker at the Warri parley with Prof. Osinbajo who accused the minister of anti-party activities and that was despite commendations of Kachikwu’s efforts by the state chapter of the party and the Presidential Campaign Council.

    “Such assertions lead to the belief that there are fifth columnists working within the party who do not want the issues in the party to be resolved and perhaps for the purpose of sustaining the status quo in the state.

    “We appeal to all party members to come together for the purpose of addressing the issues that divide the party in Delta State for the purpose of projecting the interests of the party in the state.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • APC’ll complete takeover of Delta on Saturday, Buhari vows

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said Saturday’s election will complete the cycle of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) take-over of the affairs of Delta state.

    This, he said, is going by the achievements of the party in the state during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Buhari made the declaration at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Uvwie council area of the state on Monday when he addressed a congregation of the party’s stakeholders and other stakeholders of the state, including traditional rulers.

    The President, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, also assured the stakeholders the federal government would ensure there is adequate security during next Saturday’s elections to address concerns about rigging and other electoral anomalies.

    “What happened last Saturday is a great victory for us but it is only the beginning because the completion of that victory is going to come by the grace of God on Saturday March 9, 2019 when we vote in our own governor, Great Ogboru, who will by the grace of God be a governor from that very day.

    “It is very clear to everybody and to the world that Delta State can never be the same again.

    “It’s impossible for Delta State to go back after what happened on Saturday. As the APC chairman said, we all watched to see what will happen in Delta state. Delta state was a focus of all of our attention.”

    He went on: “Just as the chairman has said, we have seen a Delta state where the PDP was unable to recall a vote of 1.2 million and will knew they wrote the result.

    “We wanted to see what way they can be curtailed, but you all proved that ‘you can tell a lie for a thousand years, but one day the truth will catch up’ and the truth caught up with them last Saturday.

    “That truth will manifest itself fully this Saturday when we hold the next election. Delta state has proved a very important point that this state is ready for change to the next level.

    “The other reason why it is so important for us to ensure that Delta State become an APC state has been pointed out. The social investment programme that we put in place, it is only APC governor that can implement such programmes faithfully.

    “We believe that once we are able to have an APC governor such programmes will be implemented.”

    Speaking on reasons why the state should not remain in the opposition to the federal government, Prof Osinbajo pointed at the various development projects that had been kicked off for the economic and social development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region, especially Delta state.

    “I heard talks about Delta Steel Company (DSC), after so many years, the Itakpe-Aladja railway has been completed 35 years after being on the card. It’s this same President that completed it. PDP has been in power all these many years, why didn’t they complete it? They (PDP) are the ones who created this mess.

    “Even the Warri seaport which we are now dredging has been there for years. They didn’t do it. All of these times that PDP has been in power. Sometimes, it surprises me that with the resources that Delta State has had for so many years, where are the fruit of the resources. Look at the Warri Seaport, it could have been seamlessly be done by the state. Here we are, we (APC) are completing the dredging of the channel. Even the East-West raod, this is the first government that has put resources for its completion. We are putting large amount of money into the East-West road. We all will benefit from it.

    “Delta state should not be an opposition state. Why should Delta be an opposition state? Why? There is no reason for it at all. For all the periods that Delta State has had high resources, what we need was a change from a progressive party. The time has come. This is the moment, let us seize that moment. You have shown courage, it is only the courageous that wins”, he said.

    Meanwhile, speaking earlier, various speakers had urged Presiden Buhari to ensure strict security cover for the state to prevent the rigging of next Saturday’s election by the PDP, saying that the party (PDP) would repeat its alleged rigging pattern during the governorship and state House of Assembly election if there is no proper security to deter such.

    The event gathered leaders and stakeholders of the party in the state, including the governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, the leaders of the party in the state, like the Minister of State of Petroleum Resources, Dr Dr Ibe Kachikwu, former governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and others.

  • ACPN denies endorsing Okowa

    The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) said on Sunday that it has not endorsed the candidacy of the incumbent governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa for this weekend’s governorship election.

    National Secretary of the party, Chief Paul Isamade said in a statement in Abuja that the ACPN was committed to winning the governorship election in Delta state and pulling the people of the state out of the backwardness the current PDP government is subjected the people to.

    Chief Isamade who is also the party’s governorship candidate in the state said the people of the state should disregard such insinuation and urged its members across the state to work hard for the success of the party’s governorship candidate in the state.

    The party’s national leadership also threatened to sanction any member of ACPN who defy the directive or seen in anti-party activity in whatever form.

    The statement also urged the public to disregard any publication that includes the name of the party in respect of purported endorsement.

    “Allied Congress Party of Nigeria “ACPN” wish to inform the general public that the party in delta state has not and will not endorse any other candidate in the March 9th governorship election in delta state because the party is contesting the said electrion.

    “The general public should disregard any publication that includes the name of the party in respect of the above subject.  The party also warns all it’s members in the state to work for the success of the party and her candidate only.”

  • APC accuses PDP thugs of killing its member in Delta

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State chapter, has accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state of allegedly killing one of its members, Mr Dennis Osifor.

    Mr Osifor was allegedly stabbed to death by thugs suspected to be from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Effurun, Uvwie council area of the state.

    A youth leader of the APC in Uvwie, who confirmed the development, Mr Napoleon Adibor, said trouble started when the late Osifor and his fellow APC members were preparing for a victory Party to celebrate the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the area when he was allegedly attacked by youths of the opposition Party who felt they are been mocked in the area.

    He noted that the late Osifor was allegedly chased by thugs loyal to an opposition party in the state, who caught up with him at Ovie Palace Road, Effurun, and stabbed him severally.

    According to Adibor, sympathisers who saw him where he was left to die in his pool of blood took the late Osifor to the Ekpan General Hospital where his relatives were informed about what happened.

    “We were planning a victory party for President Buhari’s re-election on Wednesday, at about noon, all a sudden these PDP thugs just attacked our location, causing people to flee. Unfortunately, these hoodlums zeroed on Dennis and by the time they caught up with him around Ovie Palace Junction, they stabbed him severely”, Adibor explained.

    A family source who also pleaded anonymity said that at the Ekpan General Hospital, they were referred to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara where Osifor died the following day.

    Read Also: Arewa forum rallies for APC, Sanwo-Olu in Lagos

    It should be pointed out that the Effurun and Ekpan axis of Uvwie council area of Delta state have been engulfed in bloody rivalry between members of the PDP and the APC, which has claimed many lives and has rendered many maimed.

    Contacted the Delta State Police Command said Mr Dennis Osifor, was stabbed to death by a rival cult group who left him to die in his pool of blood.

    The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Chuks Orisewezie, who spoke to our correspondent on telephone said, “According to the report before me, the person that was killed was stabbed to death as a result of secret cult related clashes.”

  • We have nothing to do with death of two, says Delta APC

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) has debunked allegations linking it to the death of two young men during the presidential and national assembly polls in Sapele, Delta State.

    In a press release made available to newsmen on Sunday, the party described the claims as efforts on the part of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cover up their involvement in the killings.

    Calling on security operatives to investigate the matter, the release which was signed by the party’s chairman, Comrade Friday Erubasa, said the attack was plotted to rig the elections in ward 9, which has always been an APC stronghold.

    It also called on security agencies to ignore allegations by the PDP that the attack was carried out by one of APC chieftains, whose house was burnt down after the onslaught.

    Read Also: Polls: Kidnapped APC candidate still in captivity

    Some political thugs had reportedly opened fire on voters at Ward 9, Unit 15 in Amukpe area of Sapele, leading to the death of two persons who made attempt to snatch ballot boxes.

    Stating that the presence of the deceased persons, identified as Michael Chibueze and Jeffrey Otevane, at that polling unit was questionable, considering that they were not registered voters of the unit, the APC alleged that they were PDP members recruited as mercenaries by the council chairman, Chief Eugene Inoaghan and one Hero Asagba, a special adviser to governor of Delta state, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa.

    It wondered why the duo were being said to be Ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), even when the electoral body is yet to report loss of any official.

    Calling on party supporters to come out en masse and vote for APC candidates in the forthcoming governorship polls, the party disputed claims that its candidate, Moses Ogodo was part of the thugs, adding, “Moses Ogodo was never at the polling booth, as he is a registered voter at unit 12, ward 9 where he was on that day, exercising his franchise.”

  • Delta PDP petitions police over members’ death

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State has petitioned the Commissioner of Police to investigate the murder of its members during last Saturday’s elections.

    A statement by the chairman, David Oghenekevwe, said the deceased members – Messrs Michael Chubiuke and Jeffrey Otevane – went to vote when they met their death.

    He accused Moses Ogodo, a House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his gang of masterminding their death.

    Read also: Security agencies uncover plot by PDP, others to discredit poll

    The statement reads: “Between 13:00hours and 14:00hours on February 23, at unit 15 ward 9, which is very close to Moses Ogodo’ residence, Ogodo and his cohorts came out armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.

    “According to an eyewitness, Ogodo shot and killed Michael Chubiuke, while Shaldrack Nebragho killed Jeffrey Otevane, and they continued to shoot sporadically.

    “This untoward behaviour is unacceptable; we condemn it and call on the Commissioner of Police and other security agents to bring the perpetrators to book.

    “Those who committed this crime are well known; we call on relevant security agencies to take necessary action and bring the culprits – Moses Ogodo, Shaldrack Nebragho and others to book.”

  • Senators Omo-Agege, Manager re-elected in Delta

    Results for the Senate and House of Representatives in last Saturday’s election in Delta state finally made it in on Monday.

    After a rather slow and tiring process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released some of the results in the Delta Central and South Senatorial Districts.

    In Delta Central, the incumbent senator, representing the district, who is also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, emerged winner, having polled 111,100 votes.

    According to the Returning Officer of the contest, Professor Godfrey Ariavie, who announced the results out in Ughelli, Omo-Agege defeated his closest opponent and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Evelyn Oboro, who polled 99,422 votes.

    In Delta South Senatorial District, the incumbent Senator James Manager of the PDP, defeated his main opponent, former governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of the APC, to win his re-election to the Senate the fifth time.

    Read Also: Omo-Agege empowers 250 women

    According to the Returning Officer, Prof. Oladipupo Adesina of the University of Benin, who announced the results in Oleh, Senator Manager polled 258,812 votes to win Dr Uduaghan who garnered 125,776 votes.

    Also, the candidate of the APC for the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, Revd Ejiroghene Waive, was declared winner of the election, polling a total of 41,385.

    Returning Officer of the contest, Dr. Igbinoba Eghosa, said Waive thrashed his closest contenders; the candidates of the PDP, Hon Samuel Marierie, who polled 35,126 and the incumbent, Hon Solomon Awhinawhi,  who is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and polled 11,098 votes.

    The Returning Officer for the Warri Federal Constituency election, Dr Samuel Osifo, has declared Chief Thomas Ereyitomi of the PDP winner of the seat, having polled a total of 152,874 votes to defeat the incumbent, Hon Daniel Reyeineiju of the SDP, who polled 25,032 votes and Mr Alex Eyengho of the APC, who polled 18,443 votes.

     

     

  • 20 killed as violence rocks polls

    No  fewer than 17 people were killed across the country yesterday as violence erupted during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The army confirmed six in Rivers State alone.

    Three of the victims died at different polling units at Okota, a suburb of Lagos, and three in Sapele, Delta State, two each in Bayelsa and Kogi States while one each was killed in Oyo and Zamfara States.

    The remaining two died on Friday during a clash between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State.

    Sequel to the violence, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decided to hold   fresh elections in some parts of  Lagos, Rivers and Anambra States.

    INEC Commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, announced the development said the move was on account of disruption.

    He said: “The commission has received reports of violence and ballot box snatching in some areas leading to the disruption of the process. We have asked the Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs and the Electoral Officials on ground to submit their firsthand reports in relation to some of these incidents. We are still receiving reports relating to incidences in some states of the federation but we have received reports relating to incidences in Akuku Toru and Bonny local government areas of Rivers state.

    “So long as the commission could not deploy in these areas, the implication is that voting did not take place in those areas and the commission will hold consultations with the relevant authorities and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in relation to these areas and will announce the date when polls will take place in some of these areas, especially in relation to the areas as they affect the House of Representatives and Senatorial elections.

    “It is not only in Rivers that we had reports of burning of electoral materials. We have such reports from Anambra and Lagos States as well as some other places.”

    The victims in Rivers State included two brothers and a soldier.

    Sources identified one of the victims in Lagos simply as Peter. He was said to be a barber and was allegedly   shot and stabbed to death at Powerline, Canal Estate in Okota  by thugs who stormed the polling station in an attempt to disrupt the electoral process.

    Another was identified as Demola, a leader of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the area who was lynched by a mob for allegedly denying them a right to vote.

    The identity of the third man could not be immediately established, but he was stabbed to death at Last Bus Stop, Ago Okota.

    Residents alleged that the thugs first showed their intent as early as 8am when they stormed the area threatening prospective voters.

    They blamed the police and soldiers for not acting on reports about the activities of the alleged hoodlums.

    An eye witness said: “Those guys were armed with guns and cutlass. We had policemen and soldiers here and I personally told them that those guys seated under the umbrella there were thugs and not voters in this area.

    “We told them to do their job by chasing them away or arresting them but surprisingly, the security people left. They only left one police van here and the policemen inside had just stick.

    “As soon as those policemen and soldiers left, these boys started scattering everywhere. They destroyed the ballot boxes but we were able to secure the presidential ballot box because we had voted.

    “They killed one barber and injured many people here. We called the police and soldiers for reinforcement. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials ran away for their lives. Soldiers later came to rescue them.

    “But why we are angry now is that the INEC doesn’t want to continue our election. They said they will not count our votes here and we have refused. There are police and soldiers here, so, let them count the votes of our presidential election. At least, they could not scatter that.”

    Some of the hoodlums also stormed polling unit 023, Ago Palace Way, and set fire to   thumb printed ballot papers.

    However, the voters fought back and the thugs fled on a motorcycle.

    One of them was however unlucky and was subsequently seized with his motorcycle which was immediately set ablaze.

    The suspect was beaten and later handed over to the police.

    Ten others were arrested also at Okota.

    The police arrested nine other suspected thugs at Somolu, Lagos for allegedly molesting voters with charms, six in Epe, three at Ajao Estate, Lagos.

    Soldiers arrested two persons at Aguda, Surulere, Lagos.

    One of the suspects Yusuf, said a politician asked him to come to a polling unit for an unknown reason.

    Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) David Folawiyo and Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu went round the city to monitor the security situation.

    Leader of OPC in Okota, Prince Osipote, denied the thugs who disrupted elections in the area. He said they were not members of the OPC.

    Addressing reporters after a meeting with his men, Muazu said a total of 23 persons were arrested in the state for attempts to disrupt the elections which he described as generally peaceful in the state.

    He said: “We went round several polling units and it was generally peaceful. We had a few cases of disruption of election process. The most important was the one at Okota where few polling units were attacked.

    “Some hoodlums went there when election was ongoing and disrupted the process. We heard the rumour that people were killed but we went there and we did not see any corpse. The DPO did not see anyone that was killed.

    “In Okota, nine suspects were arrested. They came on motorcycles and 10 of these were recovered. Okota is a very large area and we cannot deploy armed policemen to polling units. The armed policemen were far off. That was why the hoodlums were able to strike and fled before armed policemen could get there.

    “It is indeed a breach of the restriction order. I wonder where they came from but the case is under investigation and we will find out where they came from.

    Three killed, two injured in Sapele shooting

    Unknown gunmen were blamed for the killings in Sapele.

    Sources said the hoodlums swooped on voters as they queued to exercise their franchise at Amukpe area of Sapele and unexpectedly opened fire.

    Two persons died on the spot while another died in the hospital.

    Two other persons hit by bullets are now receiving treatment in the hospital.

    The motive of the gunmen could not be immediately established.

    A resident of the area said: “I’m not sure they carted election materials away, but I saw that the ground of the place was littered with electoral  materials, giving me the impression that they only scattered the materials.”

    Police Commissioner Adeleke Adeyinka said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

    But a security source said: “immediately we heard of the situation, we moved in to take over the area so as to stabilize it and prevent a further escalation of the situation.”

    APC chieftain, brother soldier killed in Rivers

    Unknown gunmen also shot to death, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Mowan Owo-Ete, and his brother.

    They were killed in the politician’s residence at Asarama, Andoni Local Government Area at about 9am.

    Owo-Ete, a former Vice-Chairman of PDP and ex-Special Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike on Political Matters, defected to the APC last October.

    The gunmen were said to have scaled the fence of the house and rained bullets on them at close range.

    It was learnt that Owo-Ete had narrowly escaped assassination shortly before the February 16 elections were postponed.

    It was also gathered that a soldier was killed in Abonema

    Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed through the telephone, the death of the top politician and his elder brother, stressing that personnel of the command were on the trail of the killers, while expressing optimism that they would soon be arrested and prosecuted, to serve as a deterrent to other criminals.

    There  were also sporadic gunshots in  Ubima, Ikwerre LGA of Rivers, hometown Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi; Okrika, hometown of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; and Bonny Island making it impossible for the Electoral Officer of INEC in LGA, Eze Ukachukwu, to distribute voting materials.

    Abonnema, hometown of governorship candidate of APC, Pastor Tonye Cole, and his counterpart of Accord Party, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs also had its own share of violence.

    It was gathered that the heavy shootings in Abonnema started on Friday night and continued till yesterday morning, with the intention of scaring INEC officials.

    Information Commissioner Emma Okah, claimed that 15 PDP members were shot dead by soldiers in Abonnema.

    But the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, dismissed Okah’s claim as a lie.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham, speaking through the division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, said: “Policemen were unable to contain the situation in Abonnema, leading to the deployment of soldiers. Voting could also not start at 2 p.m. in Bonny LGA. The elections in Akuku-Toru and Bonny LGAs will be rescheduled for a later date.”

    Wike hailed INEC for the prompt distribution of electoral materials across Rivers State in yesterday’s elections.

    Rivers governor, who was accompanied to the voting unit by his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette, spoke with reporters shortly after voting at his Ward 9, Unit 7, Obio/Akpor LGA of the state at 12 noon, however, blamed the military for the challenges experienced in some parts of the state.

    The Nigerian Army last night confirmed that six people were killed by troops in Abonnema, Akuku Toru local government area of Rivers State.

    Read also: EFCC operatives at INEC collation centre in Lagos

    It also added the Army lost a lieutenant in the encounter when suspected attackers laid ambush for troops at a compound in Abonnema town.

    The spokesman of the Army, Colonel Sagir Musa said in a statement that the attackers barricaded a major road in the town and when troops attempted to clear the debris the attackers opened fire on them.

    Colonel Musa said:”Information reaching Headquarters of Nigerian Army (NA) revealed that troops of 6 Division on a legitimate duty of protecting lives and properties of law abiding citizens and ensuring a conducive environment for peaceful conduct of 2019 General Elections in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area (LGA) Rivers State were attacked by some hoodlums.

    “The pre-planned attack occurred in between Charles and Bob-Manuel’s compounds in Abonnema Town at about 1:00pm on the 23rd February 2019.

    “The attackers barricaded a major road into the town and laid an ambush in the adjoining built-up areas from where they opened fire on our unsuspecting troops when they attempted to remove the barricade.

    “The gallant troops fought their way through the siege and in the process killed six of the assailants.  However, we lost a lieutenant in the encounter.

    ” Preliminary investigation indicated that one Roland  Sekibo, – the Chairman Akuku Toru LGA, Omodo – the CSO Akuku Toru LGA and  Kenneth of Kula currently at large were the masterminds of the unexpected/ unprovoked attack.

    “To this end, the NA strongly hereby state that perpetrators of this ambush will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

    Armed men kill Govt House photographer, PDP chairman in Bayelsa

    A Yenagoa Government House photographer, Mr. Reginald Dei, and a ward chairman of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) Seidougha Taribi were the victims in Bayelsa State.

    They were allegedly killed by armed men in military uniform  at Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area òf the  State.

    Sources said they were killed in their houses at the close of voting yesterday

    The State Chairman of PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas blamed the APC for the killings.

    Moses had said that thugs identified to be working for the APC with the support of some soldiers had 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 stated further that the rampaging APC thugs hijacked the electoral materials for the seven wards of Bassambiri and Oluasiri to a building for thumb-printing.

    Two killed in Kogi East

    Thugs killed two persons in Anyigba, Dekina local government of  Kogi State while attempting to disrupt voting in the area.

    The victims lost their lives  at the Ajetachi polling unit when thugs stormed the area.

    They were said to have been shooting indiscriminately, killing the victims one of whom was a nineteen year old boy, simply identified as Usman.

    A woman who was on the queue to cast her ballot was seriously injured.

    At Agbeji, thugs who invaded two polling unit tried to force the Presiding Officers (PO) to sign completed result sheets.

    The POs however refused, and took to their heels, resulting in the disruption of the exercise.