By Olusegun Adeosun
Despite the massive security arrangement put in place for Saturday’s gubernatorial and state assembly elections nationwide, several fatalities were still recorded in some parts of the country.
At least three persons were reported killed in Rivers State in the early hours of Saturday. One of them was identified as Michael Abednego was killed in Ahoada West Local Government area.
A former woman leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, whose name could not be ascertained as at time of reporting, and another male victim, were reported killed in Ndoni, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA.
In Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in the South West, two persons were also reportedly shot dead at ward 6, unit 4. The incident, according to an eye witness, was as a result of a dispute that allegedly ensued between the supporters of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, over payments to voters.
This is in sharp contravention of the Electoral Act which forbids vote buying.
“As voters have assembled to vote,” the female eye witness continued, “all of sudden, we just heard gun shots from different directions, as people began to run for safety. There was no armed security men on hand to douse the tension as the ones available were not armed. After that, we just heard people talking in groups, saying that they have killed two people.”
Also in Akwa Ibom State, a young man was reportedly shot dead by the soldiers. He was killed as he reportedly made away with a ballot box at a polling unit in Ikot Udo Ossiom village, Ukanafun Local Government Area Akwa Ibom State.
An eyewitness said the young man had attempted to snatch the ballot in the morning immediately it arrived from INEC but was prevented by soldiers guiding the polling unit. The victim, according to the eye witness, went back and reinforced; then returned to the unit to snatch the ballot the second time. Irked by such effrontery, the soldier opened fire and shot him dead.
A yet-to-be identified election observer was also reportedly shot dead by a policeman in Umuida community, Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze north local government area of Enugu state.
Ebere Amarizu, spokesman of the Enugu Police Command who confirmed the incident to journalists, attributed it to “accidental discharge”.
The observer, who was shot in the head by the police officer, was said to have had a confrontation with the policeman at a polling unit metres away from the residence of Ayogu Eze, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.
He was first taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Enugu Ezike before he was transferred to another hospital in Enugu town.
His condition was yet was unknown as at press time.
In Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers State, six journalists were kidnapped by suspected militants. Among them is Nonso Iziguzor of Nigerian Info FM.
One person was also reportedly stabbed to death by thugs early on Saturday by thugs in Akinima area of the LGA
Meanwhile, Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, an assistant commissioner of police, ACP, has expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the police in Saturday’s elections. But he revealed that that his organisation would re-stratgise for the collation of results scheduled for later Saturday at various centres across the country. “We are focusing, putting all our efforts on the collation centres,” he said.
In an earlier meeting with newsmen, Clement Nwankwo, spokesperson of the Civil Society Organisations Situation Room, condemned the reported killings, incidents and pockets of violence recorded across the country.