No fewer than eight persons, including a policeman were killed yesterday before actual voting started at the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections in Rivers State.

The policeman was killed early on Saturday morning at the Rex-Lawson area of the old Port Harcourt Township even before accreditation commenced.

Though the cause of the cop’s death death was not known, but the State‎ Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ahmad Muhammad who confirmed the killing said there were traces of violence before the policeman died.

Muhammad said, “The policeman killed was one of those deployed to monitor the elections today (Saturday). We see that there was evidence of violence before he was killed. His remains has been moved from to a nearby morgue and we (Police) have commenced investigation into the killing.”

The police image maker however said over 17, 000 policemen were deployed to monitor the poll across the state, with a minimum of two policemen in each polling unit.

It was gathered that one person was beheaded, while two others were shot dead in Asari-Toru local government area of the state, even as hoodlums stormed office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and reportedly threw substances suspected to by dynamite into INEC office, destroying election materials and vehicles‎.

Though, cause of the killings was not immediately ascertained, but it may not be unconnected with power tussle between the two main political parties in the state.

Also, eyewitnesses said there were heavy shootings on Friday night preceding the election‎ up until about 7.00 am yesterday (Saturday) morning in Buguma, headquarters of Asari-Toru local government area, even as supporters of parties were spotted burning tyres on the main road.

The situation heightened tension in the area, while many residents stayed at home for fear of being hit by stray bullet.



Meanwhile, in Rumuomasi, a reporter with Channels Television, Grace Ekang and his reporter, were attacked and beaten by angry youths, though the details of the attack was not clear.

Also, in Bomu, Gokana local government area, a reporter with Silverbird Rhythm FM, Ofonime Okon was beaten by thugs who asked if he was sent by a particular governorship candidate in the state, even as he scampered for safety, while the vehicle (Toyota) e was travelling in was damaged.

Also, in Okpogo community, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area, a group of youths reportedly snatched ballot boxes, while two unidentified men were shot dead.

In Abua/Odual local government area, there was shooting which resulted in the loss of one live, though the police was yet to confirm, even as policemen and other security personnel were spotted along Omuku town looking for hoodlums who allegedly snatched ballot box.

It was also gathered that the residence of the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Joyba West was burnt by unknown hoodlums, while she was also attacked.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari confirmed the attack on Mrs. West, saying her colleague was still hiding.

Meanwhile, Governor Chibuike Amaechi and his wife, Judith after being accredited at ward in Ubima, Ikwerre local government area described the election in the state as a charm.

Amaechi while speaking with newsmen said the Governorship and House‎ of Assembly Election was characterized by ballot box snatching, intimidation and harassment.

This is as Amaechi has disown a text messages allegedly traced to him calling on Rivers people not to vote and for the election to be cancelled, even as he said his phone number was cloned.

The governor who spoke through the spokesman of the state government, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari in a statement said her principal had no time called on INEC to cancel the poll.


The statement reads, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to SMS message purporting the cancellation of elections in the state by the Independent Electoral Commission.



“The state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi hereby reaffirms his position that the elections must hold as scheduled and that all eligible voters in the state should go out and exercise their rights to elect the next Governor and members of the State House of Assembly.



“Rivers people are further reassured of the Government commitment to ensuring their safe and security at the elections.”



In Oyigbo local government area, explosion from‎ substances suspected to be dynamite went off near a polling unit, but voters defied the development and later went to be accredited before 1.00 pm.


http://leadership.ng/news/politics/424855/8-killed-pre-election-violence-in-rivers

FCT FOR THE FIRST TIME THANK YOU LORD

Amaechi l hail your handiwork......Wike Will Win

Rip

Good for them, in their next world they would be wise


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Rip to the idiiots

Badnews

walai na PDP kill dem..I dey 100℅ sure

We all know the instigators of the violence. Thank heavens they're leaving.

Ok

Seems we recorded more violence today than March 28
So glad the election is finally over. Moving on! No time.

Good for our demoCRAZY

Ok

It truely means there were no election in rivers state.

Eya RIP

let them spill one million blood


wike must win


God bless PDP


God bless southern Nigeria

Stup1d state elections isn't a do or die affair!

Rivers has become as lawless as Somalia! All these human lives being wasted all in the name of power, while the children of the politicians involved are watching from a safe distance, no politician's ambition worth my blood!

The human life is sacred above any ambition, just as Kenya after losing 147 of her citizens to Al-shabaab has told United Nations to relocate the almost a million Somalian refugees from the refugee camp on Kenyan soil back to Somalia because they can't continue being charitable to an ungrateful people.

God I was Nt a victim thank u

Peace reign

Na wa o, wike small smal o

[size=18pt]Wike!Wicked!!Wike!!!
What shall it profit a man after killing so many and still lost the election .

One thing i know,Wike can not be the nxt gov of Rivers!!![/size]

Peace reign in Rivers

spongeisback:
Stup1d state elections isn't a do or die affair!

Shut your trap - Your father is a stup1id man

Truckpusher:
Shut your trap - Your father is a stup1id man

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With the a good father, you wouldn't have ended up as a truck pusher.




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In oda news....
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.KANU nwankwo spotted at Lagos lagoon

There really was no election in rivers state.. It was a situation of the best rigger takes all... In eteo, one of apc chieftains carried boys and pursued voters, in ebubu, one apc chieftain put the ballot box in his car and was driving, pdp thugs followed with assorted guns, shooting sporadically... In ogale, apc boys blocked inec office since friday cos they said the rigging pdp did in presidential wouldn't be done in gubernatorial..

In summary rivers was hell

RIP APC, RIVERS STATE . OCT 2013- APRIL 11 2015. As you relocate to daura to join your new fathers, we hate you but almjiris love you most, we won't miss you.sleep to wake no more.. Bye

Signed RIVERS state People

In my own opinion of the two evils in Rivers State(Amechi and Wike),Nyesom Wike is the lesser evil.
It's not a big surprise that Wike is winning because the people of Rivers State knows that Amechi and his cohorts cannot be trusted with the affairs of Rivers State for the next 4 years.