As state govt alleges release of arrested INEC adhoc staff

By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HAR-COURT—  Soldiers in Rivers State have recovered a cache of arms during an operation in Ahoada East, Ogbakiri in Emohua and Buguma, Asari Toru Local Government Areas of the state.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government, has alleged that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Amadi has released Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, adhoc staff allegedly caught thumb-printing ballot papers for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidates in the April polls.

Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, David Iyofor, in a statement, yesterday, said: “The adhoc staff of INEC were arrested on Sunday, one day after the governorship and House of Assembly elections in a private residence in Rumueprikom, Port Harcourt, (allegedly) thumb-printing ballot papers for PDP candidates. The INEC personnel were arrested by policemen from MOPOL 19.

“However, as the arrested INEC staff were being moved, the MOPOL team were intercepted by a Divisional Police Officer in Rumueprikom Police Station, who informed Mr Amadi. He came and released the arrested INEC staff. He took them to INEC office.”

Meanwhile, Brigade Commander, 2 Brigade Port Harcourt Barracks, Brig-General Koko Essien, who spoke when  he paraded some suspected political thugs at the barracks, said: “In continuation of our operation to mop up arms and ammunitions in 2 Brigade’s area of responsibility, we conducted series of operations before and during the April 11 elections in Rivers State. On April 10, we got information of a stockpile of weapons at a  hotel in Ahoada East of which soldiers carried out a cordon and search operation on the hotel with discoveries.

“Two suspects were arrested at the hotel with two pump action guns, 41 machetes, 55 cartridges and the sum of N300, 000.00.”

The Brigade Commander who spoke through the Brigade’s Commanding Officer, Intelligence Group, Lt-Col. Bayo Lawal, said his men have been on mop up operation to recover illegal arms in the hands of suspected political thugs.

“Subsequently, soldiers went after them and arrested two suspects with two AK 47 riffles, three AK 47 magazines and 41 rounds of 7.62mm Special live ammunition. Our troops after a hot pursuit arrested two suspected arsonists who set ablaze a building in Buguma town during Saturday’s elections,” Essien added.