RIVERS POLL: Thugs cut off INEC official’s hand

Reports emanating from Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, say suspected political thugs on Saturday cut off the hand of an INEC official.

They were said to have also abducted a second electoral officer.

Both men were part of the team conducting the supplementary legislative poll in Igbo-Etche area of the state.

The INEC official who was reportedly drenched in his own blood has been Taken to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Mr Ikoiwak Aniedi in his reaction called on the media to focus more on electoral violence in the country.

Read also: Senate orders Minister to throw out prostitutes, urchins from FCT

He noted that there is a need to address the issue of electoral violence in the country, even as the commission strives to carry out its primary responsibility of conducting elections.

He stated however, that the police is yet to officially brief the commission on the situation.

Meanwhile, security agents have arrested about 50 people, all men, from different areas around Ulakwo suspected to be political thugs.

They were accused of trying to disrupt the on- going legislative election in Etche.

The election is the conclusion of the 2015 general elections to fill the Etche state Constituency II and Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency seats.

The previous elections to fill the seats were postponed indefinitely following violence that broke out during the general elections during the 2015 election.

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now