By Emma Amaize  & Austin Ogwuda

ABRAKA— POLICE in Delta State have arrested eight suspected political thugs for allegedly invading three Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, registration units in the state and snatching 1,301, 000 permanent voters’ cards, PVCs, in the last 48 hours.

Vanguard gathered that 503 voters’ cards were snatched at two registration units in Oginibo and 654 at Ekakpamre, both in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state, while 144 PVCs were snatched at Erho Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the separate incidents, however, said the ones hijacked in Oginibo and Ekakpamre had been recovered and nine suspects already in police net.

She said: “On August 17, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Otu-Jeremi Division received information from the electoral officer in charge, Ughelli South council, one Uchechukwu Eze, that some faceless elements stormed units 17 and 18 of Jeremi, Ward 2 in Oginibo and snatched about 503 permanent voters’ cards meant for distribution in the said wards.

“Based on the report, the DPO led patrol team to the areas where three suspects were promptly arrested. However, the 503 cards were later recovered abandoned near the garage in Oginibo town.
“In a related incident on the same date, the DPO also received report that 654 PVCs meant for distribution in Unit 12, Ekakpamre ward, were snatched. The suspect was arrested and all the 654 PVCs recovered.

“Investigation is in progress while all the recovered PVCs have been released to the electoral officer for Ughelli South council on bond.
“On August 17, a national Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member and Distribution Officer for Unit 6, Erho-Abraka, reported at Abraka police station that on the previous day, 144 PVCs meant for distribution in the above unit were stolen from him by unknown person(s).
“Four suspects have been arrested and are helping the police in investigation, while efforts are on to recover the stolen PVCs.”