It
is a statement of fact that the recently concluded Rivers State parliamentary
election held on 10th December 2016 from security perspectives was a
huge success. Arguably, the conduct of the election in terms of police
performance was acknowledged by major stakeholders as distinctively
professional and a well-organized election when compared with previous
elections in the state which major hallmarks were violence, disruption of
electoral process, wanton destruction of lives and property.
The
pre-election predictions of plausible and imminent violence was forestalled by
the massive deployment of security personnel and logistics, creative engagement
of stakeholders, robust interagency collaboration and effective discharge of
election duties, coupled with transparency and accountability displayed by the
security agents.
The
attempt by some major political gladiators in the state to foist violence and
trigger an atmosphere of insecurity failed woefully. These political gladiators
and major stakeholders clandestinely promoted violence and exhibited abuse of
power and office.
In
the course of the re-run election, some suspects who attempted to scuttle the
electoral process were arrested and sensitive INEC materials were recovered
from them, arms and ammunition inclusive.
Those
arrested are as follows:
a.
Noble Nwaerema ‘m’
b.
Dike Deinpiribo ‘m’
c.
Valentine Alalibo ‘m’
d.
Onwunari J. Warmate ‘m’
e.
Iloke Stephen ‘m’
Exhibits
recovered from the suspects include:
a.
A green INEC branded bag
b.
Eight (8) booklets of ballot papers meant for Emohua LGA
c.
One (1) booklet of INEC Accreditation Incident Report Forms
d.
One (1) booklet of statement of results
e.
One (1) blood stained APC agent ID card
Arms
and ammunition recovered from the suspects include:
a.
One (1) AK47 rifle
b.
One (1) assault rifle
c.
Six (6) magazines
d.
112 rounds of live ammunition
BRIEF
ON ARRESTED SUSPECTS
Noble
Nwaerema ‘m’ 33 years on the 10th of December, 2016 was arrested by
SARS operatives along RumusiElele. He claimed he was hired by the youth
president of Itu-Ikwere community together with eight (8) others imported from
aneighbouring state. They invaded Emouha Local Government and carted away electoral
materials meant for polling units within the area. He was arrested with some of
the exhibits while others are at large. Intelligence report confirmed the
electoral materials were taken to a government facility and escorted by armed
personnel.
Dike
Deinpiribo, Valentine Aldibo, Onwuarari J. Warmate and Iloke Stephen belong to
a group of cultist and professional political thugs. They claimed their
services were engaged by one Hon. BomaGoodHead who procured two AK47 rifles and
commissioned his driver, one Iryo to convey the weapons in his black Toyota
Prado jeep and handed same to the suspects at Degema.
The
suspects were responsible for several armed attacks that took place during the elections
in places like Abonnema, Emuoha, Elele, Eteche and Omoku where a police officer
was gruesomely killed. The rifles and 112 rounds of ammunition were recovered
from them. Other members of the killer gang fled and detectives are on their
trail.
At
this juncture, it is instructive to maintain that some security personnel were
arrested for professional misconduct, actions, inactions, omission and
commission that were detrimental to the electoral process of the 10th
December, 2016 Rivers State parliamentary re-run elections. Some of them
directly or indirectly connived with some politicians to scuttle the process. A
high powered investigative panel is currently looking into this unacceptable
professional misconduct.
The
IGP is irrevocably committed to ensuring that democratic ethos especially the
master plan of credible election security becomes the acceptable norm in the
country. The police will decisively deal with anybody irrespective of status or
political affiliation who individually or collectively subverts the electoral
process in Nigeria in accordance with the law.
Tags
Politics