4 Dead, 24 Arrested In Rivers As Inec Cancels Elections In 8 Lgas,
SAN FRANCISCO, March 19, (THEWILL) – Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in Calabar, Baba Bolanta, who was deployed to supervise elections in Rivers State has confirmed the death of four persons in the March 19, 2016 rerun elections marred with violence prompting cancellation of elections in eight of the 23 local council areas in the state.
In a press Briefing in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the Bolanta revealed that 24 persons suspected of electoral fraud had also been arrested adding that two women were part of those arrested.
“Without mincing words, I want to say our deployments has drastically assisted in leveraging the palpable fear associated with the election, though some pockets of security breaches were recorded in few places,” he said.
“It is pertinent I let you know that we have 24 suspects comprising 22 males and 2 females in police custody who were arrested from different parts of the state. They are presently undergoing interrogation on allegations of criminal or electoral offences or both.
“To set the records straight, four deaths were recorded with two in Buguma while Nonwa Tai and Omuanwa each recorded one.”
He appealed for the continued and sustained support and cooperation of members of the public which will enable the police discharge its constitutional duty of protecting life and property.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cancelled elections in eight of the 23 local councils adding that it is also reviewing what happened in more local council areas.
This was announced by Aniedi Ikoiwak, INEC Rivers, on Sunday, saying that violence and malpractices were rife in the two LGAs namely Etche and Asari Toru.
The Commission had on Saturday suspended poll in six local government areas – Gokana, Khana, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme and Tai citing electoral violence and irregularities adding that it was reviewing the entire election in the state and would make its stand public in due course.
Story by David Oputah