The insecurity in the southeast intensified yesterday as unidentified gunmen invaded the Ihitte Uboma local government area in Imo State and gunned down staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Okorie Anthony, at the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration Exercise, CVR ; while in Anambra, the police eliminated a gunman who was also actor in the attack launched on a police station in Nteje.
The altercation was extended to the state high court situated within the state judiciary complex in Yenagoa, as violent thugs attacked a sitting court, scattered proceedings, sent the judge, lawyers and litigants away, and inflicted injuries on three persons.
The unknown hoodlums, numbering about 12, yesterday, violently ransacked Nkwo Ihitte Market in Imo State where staff of the INEC, were conducting voter registration exercise and gunned down one of the Commission’s staff and another man.
Chief Francis Okpegbuo, an eyewitness, narrated that they were at the affected location, for the registration exercise before the violent invasion.
In his words: “We had all gathered in the village square, in obedience to the directive that we should come out en-masse to register. Not long after we queued, the unknown gunmen stormed the place, shot sporadically and herded many into a room, with a threat to kill them. Others scampered for safety.”
Another person who spoke to newsmen on the condition of anonymity explained that “the INEC staff, who was beaten with a machete by the gunmen, struggled to save the big box given to them by INEC and they shot him on the chest and he died on the spot.”
He affirmed that another young person they met while they zoom off was also gunned down as they suspected he was tracking them.
The spokesperson of the commission in Imo State, Dr. (Mrs.) Chinenye Osuji, who spoke on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Professor Emeka Ezeonu, corroborated the incident.
The spokesperson said the commission has suspended the Continuous Voter Registration in the state following the violence on officials in Ihitte Uboma.
The position of the commission was issued via a press statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye.
The statement read: “The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has suspended the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise, CVR, in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.
“This is sequel to a report by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Professor Emeka Ezeonu, to the effect that today (yesterday), 14th of April 2022, Mr. Nwokorie Anthony, a staff of the Imo State office of the Commission, involved in the ongoing CVR exercise, was shot dead by unknown gunmen at Nkwo Ihitte, PU 004, in Amakohia Ward (RA 02) of Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area.
“The REC further reported that the State Office is making efforts to locate the whereabouts of the two remaining staff involved in the registration exercise.
“Prior to this incident, the Commission had suspended the CVR in Orsu and Njaba Local Government areas of the state on account of insecurity, while the exercise is taking place only at the INEC LGA office in Oru East, Oru West, Orlu, and Ohaji – Egbema Local Government Areas of the state.
“The Commission extends its condolences to the family of Nwokorie Anthony and prays that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. The incident has been reported to security agencies to unravel the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident and bring the culprits to justice.
“We enjoin the President General of the various Town Unions in Imo State, as well as all the critical stakeholders, to protect the staff of the Commission engaged in national assignments. The safety and security of staff is of paramount importance to the Commission, particularly with the devolution of the voter registration exercise beyond our State and Local Government Area offices nationwide, in our determination to serve Nigerians better.”
One of the actors in the invasion of the Nteje Police Station in Oyi local government area of Anambra State yesterday was shot dead by operatives of the State Police command.
The spokesperson of the police in the state, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng led a counterattack against the hoodlums.
He said the outcome of the counterattack was the death of one of the gunmen, as a rifle and a magazine were recovered from him.
A statement produced by Ikenga read: “Anambra Police operatives led by CP Echeng Echeng at about 3am foiled an attack by gunmen at Nteje Divisional headquarters in Oyi LGA.
“The operatives recovered one type O6 rifle, one magazine, and fifty-three live ammunition of 5.56mm and charms.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng led the crack squad by responding to the distress call as the station came under attack by the gang. The police operatives decisively dealt with the assailants.
“During the gun duel, one of the gunmen was neutralized and due to the superior fire of the police operatives, the assailants fled the scene.
“The station was secured and all police operatives and arms are intact”.
The spokesperson of the police disclosed that the CP commended the officers and men of the command for their endurance and unrelenting attempts to flush away all criminals in the state.
Three persons including two litigants and a court official were seriously injured, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, when hoodlums attacked a sitting court, sent away the judge, lawyer, litigants, and inflicted injuries on three persons.
The matter under hearing was the controversial ward, local government, and state congresses of the state chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC.
Chairman of APC in Bayelsa State, Dr. Dennis Otiotio- Odoni who reacted to the scenario, said no members of APC were involved in the court invasion, alleging that those involved were suspected supporters of the opposition party.
He said: “APC has nothing to do with the invasion of the Court. We are a law-abiding party and we have faith in the Judiciary over cases before it. We condemn the act in its entirety and call on the Police to fish out those behind it.”
Source: The Informant247 Naija News Today