The
re-run election in Rivers state has ended in a sad note after a police
DSP and orderly were brutally killed while 5 others are still missing.
DSP Alkali Mohammed
A Deputy Superintendent of Police serving with Mobile Police Unit
48, Alkali Mohammed, has been brutally murdered and beheaded by armed
men during the State and National Assemblies rerun in Rivers State.
It was gathered that Mohammed was beheaded alongside with his
orderly by armed men who ambushed his team. While three members of the
team were rescued, five others are still missing.
According to information revealed by General Officer Commanding of
the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Kasimu Abdulkarim, in
a statement said that the patrol vehicle was taken away with weapons,
three policemen escaped while five were missing in action.
“This is the same area where soldiers of 34 Brigade were ambushed on 20 November 2016 where a soldier was killed.
“Also on 21 November 2016, four personnel of NSCDC were killed
and their weapons carted away. These attacks are reasonable evidence of
violations of breach of law and order which portray the area as a flash
point. Despite these barbarisms, soldiers acted with civility and
professionally guaranteeing peaceful election," he said.
Abdulkarim added: “Nigerian Army as a respected institution
with constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property,
could not watch miscreants and hoodlums abducting, maiming and killing
innocent citizens especially in senseless attacks on uniform personnel.
“The Rivers State re-run election was adjudged credible, free,
fair and peaceful in many parts of the state. Accusations of soldiers’
partisanship therefore were sham and phony. The Division would continue
to maintain apolitical posture in discharge of its roles to ensure
provision of adequate security in Rivers State.”
He denied the alleged killing and mass arrest by soldiers in Tai,
Ogoni, Gokhna-Ogoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State, saying that
it was not true and said that the allegations made by some respected
politicians regarding deep involvement of soldiers during the elections
were aimed at tarnishing the positive image of the army.
The General Officer Commanding 6th Division, Nigerian Army Port Harcourt, Major General Kasimu Abdulkarim said, “The alleged killing and mass arrest by soldiers in Tai, Ogoni, Gokhna-Ogoni LGA of Rivers State were false.
“It is true that soldiers of 6 Division Nigerian Army provided
security during the Rivers State Legislative Re-run Election that was
conducted Saturday.
“In addition, the allegations made by some respected
politicians regarding deep involvement of soldiers during the elections
were aimed at tarnishing the positive image of the Army.
“These people allegedly accused soldiers of ballot box
snatching, illegal escorts of some politicians, arrest and detention of
voters during the general conduct of the elections.
“The weighty nature of these allegations could cause members of
the public to view soldiers negatively, hence the need to adequately
inform the general public on the true perspective.
“The public thus need to consider them as mere farce to garner public sympathy.
“The 6 Division, Nigerian Army remained apolitical in the
conduct of the election. Its soldiers provided perimeter defence to ward
off hoodlums and miscreants.
“Nigerian Army troops were in no way involved in any form of
ballot box snatching, neither were they involved in the escort of
politicians as alleged.
“They acted swiftly in response to security breaches in order
to enforce the law, provide aid to the Nigeria Police and other security
agencies especially in areas like Abonema, Etche, Gokhana, Ikwere,
Eleme, Tai, Khana and Omoku amongst others.
“Susceptibility of mentioned areas warranted providing security
for the electoral officials, voters, international and local observers,
in conjunction with other security agencies by soldiers for a peaceful
election to thrive in the environment.
“These areas were rife with armed men that engaged security
personnel. In Gokhana, armed hoodlums engaged the soldiers providing
outer perimeter defence for the electorates. In Abonema at 0730 hours
Saturday, there were 3 explosions that created bedlam.
“Subsequently, 11 NYSC members were abducted along with
electoral materials. However, 10 of them were rescued 2 hrs later by the
soldiers while one was rescued about 8hrs later.
“At Emouha, Mr Oblewaremu abducted 5 NYSC members with election
materials in a Siena bus. The corps members were rescued while the
suspect was handed over to the Police.
“Several shooting were recorded in some communities such as
Bodo, the home town of the secretary to the State Government, B-dere and
Mogho in Gokhana LGA, including snatching of ballot boxes.
“The most brutal incidence occurred at Ujju Community near
Omoku in Onelga where police patrol team was ambushed. In the ambush, 10
policemen scampered into the bush.
“The Mobile Police organized a rescue mission. Regrettably, the
team discovered that DSP Alkali Mohammed of Mobile Police Unit 48 was
beheaded along with his orderly. The patrol vehicle was taken away with
weapons, 3 policemen escaped while 5 were missing in action.
“This is the same area where soldiers of 34 Brigade were
ambushed on 20 November 2016 where a soldier was killed. Also on 21
November 2016, 4 personnel of NSCDC were killed and their weapons carted
away.
“These attacks are reasonable evidence of violations of breach of law and order which portray the area as a flash point.
“Despite this barbarism; soldiers acted with civility and professionally guaranteeing peaceful election.
“Nigerian Army as a respected institution with constitutional
responsibility to safeguard lives and property, could not watch
miscreants and hoodlums abducting, maiming and killing innocent citizens
especially in senseless attacks on uniform personnel.
“The Rivers State Re-Run Election was adjudged credible, free,
fair and peaceful in many parts of the State. Accusations of soldiers’
partisanship therefore were sham and phony.
“The Division would continue to maintain apolitical posture in
discharge of its roles to ensure provision of adequate security in
Rivers State.”
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