Report indicts INEC, Army, Police of sparking electoral violence in Rivers

CLEEN Foundation, a civil society organisation has accused the Nigerian Police Force and Army of being responsible for the violence that characterised the last Saturday rerun elections in Rivers State.

The foundation which was one of the independent election monitoring bodies in the state national and state legislative rerun elections, alleged that the election was marred by irregularities, large scale violence, professional misconducts and open bias by security operatives and electoral personnel.

According to the group’s report released on Sunday, the Police, Army, SSS were involved in several cases of violence and malpractices during and after the election.

CLEEN said, “The way and manner in which the election was conducted is a validation of the outcomes of the Security Threat Assessment report, and justifies the concerns of various stakeholders that the outcome of the election will not reflect the will of the people.”

“There were serious cases of electoral violence orchestrated by the Police, Army and DSS in Ward 3 Bodo community in Gokana and Khana Local Government Area. This led to the shooting to death of Mr. Mbari John MeeBari.

“At Ward 12, Unit 5, Abonnema, Akuku Toru, Police shot sporadically to scarce away voters. At Sara 1, Sara 2 and Kalakama (Ward 12), Okirika LGA electoral materials were hijacked by the Army and officers of SARS at gunpoint.”

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In the report, CLEEN held that security forces were the cause of the killing of a police officer, Alkali Mohammed, a deputy superintendent of police, and his orderly. The group claimed that “unwarranted use of force and shooting” by the combined forces led to the killing Mr. Mohammed who was beheaded in an ambush at Omoku, Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA.

“INEC, Police, Army and DSS provided overt and covert support for one of the political parties during the poll at Isiokpo INEC Collation Center, Ikwerre LGA, Ngo in Andoni LGA, Bonny LGA and Ahoada, INEC Staff and security agencies especially the army and police were observed openly aiding a political party.”

The group therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police and INEC to begin proper investigations into the conduct of military personnel and police officers deployed for the Rivers polls and ensure that those found guilty are brought to book.”

However, the Nigerian Police and Army have denied such claims. This is even as residents of the affected communities and other observer groups also accuse them of bias.

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